A tragic boating accident in Miami’s Biscayne Bay has claimed the lives of two children after a sailboat collided with a barge, according to the United States Coast Guard.
The crash occurred in the waters between Monument and Hibiscus Islands, where six individuals, one adult and five children, ended up in the bay, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reported.
The children involved were part of a program run by the Miami Youth Sailing Foundation, according to a statement from the Miami Yacht Club.
Four of the children were transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital following the incident.
Sadly, the Coast Guard confirmed that two of them were pronounced dead upon arrival.
Petty Officer Nicholas Strasburg told CNN that the sailing boat became submerged beneath the barge after the impact.
The specific ages of the children involved have not been released.
“At this time, details are still emerging, and we are actively gathering all available facts. Our priority is the safety and well-being of everyone involved, and we are working closely with the appropriate authorities and organizations to understand the situation fully,” the yacht club’s statement said.