A tugboat captain has pleaded guilty to seaman's manslaughter and faces up to 10 years in federal prison following a July 2025 collision near Miami that killed three children, federal prosecutors announced on Thursday.
On July 28, Capt. Yusiel Lopez Insua was piloting the 25' pusher tug Wood Chuck across Biscayne Bay when the 60' barge in tow struck a stalled 17' sailboat carrying a counselor and five children from a nearby camp. Three of the children, ages seven, 10, and 13, drowned after becoming trapped in the wreckage. The 19-year-old counselor and two other children, ages eight and 12, survived after being dragged under the barge.
According to prosecutors, the tugboat's forward view was blocked by a deckhouse and crane, and no lookout had been posted aboard the vessel. A forensic examination of Insua's cellphone also revealed internet activity during transit, including at or near the time of the collision, prosecutors said.
Lopez, who was charged in March, had initially pleaded not guilty but changed his plea to guilty in court this week.
“Three children lost their lives in a tragedy that never should have happened,” said U.S. Attorney Jason A. Reding Quiñones for the Southern District of Florida. “Yusiel Lopez Insua operated a tugboat pushing a massive barge with an obstructed view, failed to assign a lookout, and engaged in cellphone activity while underway. He admitted that his criminal failure to follow basic maritime safety rules caused this deadly collision. Our hearts remain with the children’s families and everyone whose lives were forever changed that day.”
Lopez's defence team, the U.S. government, and the victims' families have agreed to a plea deal recommending one year in prison and six months of supervised release.
The judge has final authority on sentencing and is not bound by this recommendation. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 13.
"My client is deeply remorseful for his conduct," Attorney Walter A. Reynoso told reporters outside of the courthouse. "He feels awful. He feels awful about the unimaginable pain and loss suffered by the three families who lost three very young daughters."
The case is being investigated by the Coast Guard Investigative Service Southeast Region, Coast Guard Sector Miami, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Prosecutors credited the Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office, Miami Police Department, and Miami Beach Police Department for their rescue efforts at the scene.
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Michael Gilfarb and Daniel Rosenfeld, along with Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Tanner Stiehl, are prosecuting the case.
“This case demonstrates the critical importance of strong partnerships among federal, state, and local agencies,” said Special Agent in Charge Joshua Packer of the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS), Southeast Region. “By working together, we were able to bring accountability and justice in this tragic case. Our collective efforts reflect our shared commitment to protecting lives on our nation’s waterways.”
“The tragic loss of life in this case is a solemn reminder of why the U.S. Coast Guard stands the watch every day. From inspections and investigations to search and rescue, education and outreach, and partnerships across all levels of government, our mission is clear: to ensure every vessel operating in our waters is safe, legal, and prepared. We remain committed to the highest standards of maritime safety so we can prevent future tragedies and protect the people and communities who rely on our waterways,” said Capt. Frank J. Florio, U.S. Coast Guard, Sector Miami.
