OAN’s Abril Elfi
3:46 PM – Tuesday, May 14, 2024
The boat that killed a 15-year-old girl in Miami, Florida, has been found in connection with the tragic incident.
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Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spokesperson George Reynaud told the press that Ella Adler, 15, was reportedly “hit by a boat” while she was wakeboarding near Nixon Beach in Key Biscayne on Saturday afternoon.
He said that the teen had fallen into the water and was waiting to be recovered by her own boat when another boat suddenly struck her, without stopping.
The FWC said on Tuesday that following a daylong search, authorities had finally found a boat that matched the description given by a witness and that the boat’s owner is now cooperating with the ongoing investigation.
FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto expressed that the FWC had called in additional help and “worked around the clock” to find the boat.
“As a father and grandfather, my heart is broken for the Adler family,” Barreto said in a statement. “Ella’s death is devastating for her family, friends, and the community at large. The FWC and our partner law enforcement agencies will not stop until we have all the answers and the case is solved.”
The boat has been described as a center console boat with a light blue hull, blue bottom paint, and multiple outboard engines. It is believed to be 30-to-40 feet in length.
A reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information in the investigation: FWC and Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers are both offering up to $5,000, while Adler’s family is offering an additional $10,000 reward, Reynaud said.
FWC called for anyone with more information or footage of the accident to contact them.
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