{"id":4565,"date":"2026-06-23T19:15:51","date_gmt":"2026-06-23T19:15:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/06\/23\/boat-crash-victims-family-dismayed-after-driver-george-pino-found-not-guilty\/"},"modified":"2026-06-23T19:15:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-23T19:15:51","slug":"boat-crash-victims-family-dismayed-after-driver-george-pino-found-not-guilty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=4565","title":{"rendered":"Boat crash victim\u2019s family dismayed after driver George Pino found not guilty"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"b2dce532-23c2-4ca7-b9d2-ce843066e194\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"a man in a suit looks off to the side\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/90966b3517ff8fd020d9ae309fce8732c589dfc4\/294_0_2078_1663\/master\/2078.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"372.1342637151107\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">George Pino attends his trial in Miami on 12 June.<\/span> Photograph: Matias J Ocner\/TNS\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"b2dce532-23c2-4ca7-b9d2-ce843066e194\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">George Pino attends his trial in Miami on 12 June.<\/span> Photograph: Matias J Ocner\/TNS\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Boat crash victim\u2019s family dismayed after driver George Pino found not guilty<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>Prominent Florida real estate broker found not guilty by Miami jury of manslaughter and felony vessel homicide<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The family of a teenager left with a permanent disability from a birthday party boat crash that killed another girl has reacted with dismay at the acquittal of the prominent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/florida\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Florida<\/a> real estate broker helming the vessel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">George Pino was found not guilty by a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/miami\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">Miami<\/a> jury on Monday evening of manslaughter and felony vessel homicide after the 4 September 2022 boat wreck during a celebration that he and his wife, Cecilia, were hosting for their daughter\u2019s 18th birthday, with 11 of her friends as guests.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Luciana Fernandez, 17, was killed when she was thrown from the boat after it collided with a steel channel marker in Biscayne Bay. Katerina Puig, now 21, received severe head injuries that left her permanently disabled.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Investigators found 61 empty bottles and cans of alcohol on board after the damaged, capsized boat was retrieved. But Pino, who denied that he was impaired or had been speeding, was never subjected to a breath test.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Puig\u2019s family, in a statement after the verdict reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.miamiherald.com\/news\/local\/crime\/article316223299.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">the Miami Herald<\/a>, criticized what they said was a flawed investigation into the crash \u2013 which ended with all 14 passengers onboard the 29ft vessel in the water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWhile we respect our system of justice and the role of the jury, we profoundly disagree with the verdict,\u201d her parents, Kathya and Rodolpho Puig, said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cBased on the evidence presented, we believe George Pino should have been held accountable for the reckless operation of his vessel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWe are deeply disappointed by today\u2019s verdict, and our hearts hurt for the families who continue to live every day with the unimaginable loss of Lucy. For nearly four years, our family has lived with the consequences of that tragic day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cWe see Katy\u2019s injuries every day. We see the challenges she continues to face, the strength she demonstrates in overcoming them, and the impact this tragedy has had on her life and the lives of those who love her. No verdict can change those realities.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Pino broke down in tears and hugged friends and relatives after his acquittal by a jury of five men and one woman at the conclusion of a two-week trial. His lawyer, Howard Srebnick, said in a statement that the verdict was the right one.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cFrom the beginning, we have maintained that the events of September 4 2022 were a tragic accident, not a crime,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cThe testimony presented at trial, including unrebutted accounts from eyewitnesses who saw no signs of impairment, confirmed that Mr Pino was not under the influence, was not operating the vessel recklessly, and that he did everything he could to protect his passengers after the accident.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Several friends of Fernandez and Puig, a talented soccer player, testified during the trial. All four admitted that they had been drinking while underage and were feeling \u201cbuzzed\u201d. Pino, 55, told investigators he had drunk only two beers and was sober.<\/p>\n<figure data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.NewsletterSignupBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-d9bay7\">\n<div data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1x767ir\"><\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Pino was originally charged with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/miami\/news\/state-attorneys-office-files-criminal-charges-against-boat-owner-in-deadly-2022-labor-day-crash\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">three misdemeanor<\/a> counts of careless boating. When new evidence later came to light, those were upgraded to felony charges and could have brought a 15-year prison sentence.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The Florida fish and wildlife conservation commission, whose employees conducted the investigation into the crash, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cbsnews.com\/miami\/news\/george-pino-deadly-boat-crash-case-prompts-fwc-policy-overhaul-on-body-camera-footage\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">changed several policies<\/a> after criticism of its handling, including the failure to test Pino for sobriety and the deletion of officer-worn bodycam footage of the wreck\u2019s aftermath.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Civil suits filed by the Puig family resulted in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcmiami.com\/news\/local\/suit-against-developers-wife-in-2022-boca-chita-key-boat-crash-settled-for-16m\/3299831\/\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">$16m settlement<\/a> with Cecilia Pino to pay for their daughter\u2019s ongoing medical care, and a separate, undisclosed settlement with George Pino.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Miami-Dade county state attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said in a statement she sympathized with everybody affected by the case.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cSadly, I know that this verdict brings no comfort to the Fernandez and Puig families who forever must live with the tragedy of what happened,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">\u201cIn a case like this, there are no winners or losers. Mr Pino must live with what he did, while the Fernandez and Puig families will grapple with the consequences of his actions.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/miami\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Miami<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/florida\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Florida<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-justice-system\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US justice system<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-crime\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">US crime<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Boat%20crash%20victim%E2%80%99s%20family%20dismayed%20after%20driver%20George%20Pino%20found%20not%20guilty&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jun\/23\/george-pino-not-guilty-florida-boat-crash?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fjun%2F23%2Fgeorge-pino-not-guilty-florida-boat-crash&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/jun\/23\/george-pino-not-guilty-florida-boat-crash\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-1c41onw\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1pjhtuq\"><span class=\"dcr-1ryr20k\"><\/span><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>George Pino attends his trial in Miami on 12 June. Photograph: Matias J Ocner\/TNS\/ZUMA Press Wire\/Shutterstock View image<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":4567,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4565","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4565","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4565"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4565\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4567"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4565"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4565"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4565"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}