Tugboat captain pleads guilty to manslaughter in fatal Miami boating accident

The captain of the tugboat responsible for a fatal boating tragedy in Miami, which claimed the life of Mila Yankelevich, has pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Yusiel López Insúa agreed to a plea deal with prosecutors, avoiding a potential 10-year sentence. The agreement stipulates a one-year prison term followed by six months of house arrest, according to judicial records cited by the Miami Herald.

López Insúa's attorney, Walter Reynoso, stated that his client is deeply remorseful for his actions and feels devastated by the unimaginable pain and loss suffered by the three families who lost young daughters. The sentencing hearing is scheduled for October 13.

The incident occurred last year when the tugboat, operated by López Insúa, was pushing a barge that collided with a Hobie Getaway sailboat. Mila Yankelevich, 7, was among the three children who died in the accident; another child survived with serious injuries. The Coast Guard's investigation led federal prosecutors to charge López Insúa in March.

Prosecutors indicated that López Insúa was operating the convoy with severely reduced visibility due to the barge's cargo and failed to assign a proper lookout, violating maritime safety regulations. His phone was reportedly unlocked on the bridge, and he was browsing e-commerce platforms at the time of the collision. The parents of Mila Yankelevich have filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the barge's owner, Waterfront Construction.