Family member of two women who died in serious accident between two boats in San Andrés speaks out: recounts how the incident occurred during a tour

A family vacation to San Andrés turned tragic on June 10 when a boat collision claimed the lives of two women, identified as Gabrielina Rincón and her daughter Zonia Yaneth Aponte Rincón. The mother and daughter, originally from Sogamoso, Boyacá, were on a tourist tour with three other relatives when their pontoon boat collided with a speedboat named 'Mi Bonita 2'. The incident occurred while they were enjoying a tour of San Andrés' navigable channel. According to the Directorate General of Maritime Affairs (Dimar) and the San Andrés Port Authority, the collision also left two other individuals injured, who were taken to a medical center for treatment. Kevin González, Zonia's son and Gabrielina's grandson, told local media that the family was unfamiliar with San Andrés and had not traveled together in some time. Zonia Aponte had saved for months to bring her children and mother to the island. González recounted that they arrived on June 8 and booked a tour for June 10 to visit the aquarium and other tourist spots. They chose a pontoon boat for its perceived stability and safety. However, González told Noticias Caracol that they requested life vests upon boarding but were told they were not necessary inside the pontoon. As they were returning to the island after the tour, their pontoon was struck by a speedboat traveling at high speed.

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My mother was the most excited about this process and was in a hurry to be able to travel and bring my grandmother to the island too.