Authorities in South Florida have identified the person driving the boat involved in the weekend hit-and-run of a 15-year-old girl.
Carlos Guillermo Alonso, 78, of Coral Gables, crashed the 42-foot Boston Whaler off Key Biscayne, according to a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission incident report obtained by the Palm Beach Post. During the maneuver, officials said the vessel collided with the Ella Riley Adler. USA TODAY Network.
According to reports, the girl was riding a wakeboard when she fell into the water before being hit by Alonso’s boat.
Witnesses told authorities that the man driving the boat left the scene without stopping. Ella was recovered by another boat, but succumbed to her injuries, the report said.
Here’s what we know so far about the boat hit-and-run incident.
Texas power outage map:Severe storm leaves approximately 800,000 homes and businesses without power
When was Ella Adler hit by a boat?
New information released in the report says Ella was struck while wakeboarding off the coast of Key Biscayne on Saturday afternoon.
Initial reports from the FWC indicated the girl was water skiing.
The agency said Ella fell into the ocean near Nixon Beach while being towed about a mile from shore and was struck by another boat at 4:30 p.m.
This beach is located in Miami-Dade County, approximately 11 miles south of downtown Miami.
Ella was riding a wakeboard behind a 42-foot 2017 Hanse Fjord sailboat near a sandbar, along with another unidentified woman who was also riding a wakesurf board, troopers said. It is stated in the report.
Ella and another woman in tow fell into the water at different times and locations.
Officials said while they were waiting to be retrieved by boat, another boat struck them and fled the scene. Witnesses said the boat did not appear to turn or slow down when it hit the girl.
Ella was wearing a life jacket, but succumbed to her injuries.
Who is Carlos Guillermo Alonso?
Alonso is 78 years old and lives in Coral Gables. The city is approximately 8 miles from downtown Miami. Attorney Lauren Krasnoff said her client’s name is Bill.
Investigators said it was unclear whether Alonso knew Ella had been hit or whether alcohol was a factor.
In a statement shared by Local10.com, Krasnov said Alonso does not drink alcohol.
“Bill is a very experienced rower who has been rowing for 50 years and knows the area well, but on Saturday he was boating alone,” Krasnov said in a statement. “He has no idea that he was involved in this accident. If he hit Ella that day, he definitely didn’t know about it. If he thought Bill hit something. He absolutely would have stopped. But at no point did he think about it.”He hit something, let alone a person. ”
“He had his boat moored right behind his house in plain view, and he didn’t even know there had been an accident at sea that day until the police showed up at his door,” Krasnov wrote.
USA TODAY reached out to Krasnov.
The FWC reported Tuesday that Alonso’s boat was in custody and that Alonso was cooperating with the investigation.
Has anyone been arrested for Ella Adler’s death?
Officials did not say whether Alonso has been charged in connection with the fatal hit-and-run.
He also did not disclose the date on which the suspicious boat was discovered.
Golfer arrested:Scottie Scheffler handcuffed by police before the start of the second round of the PGA Championship
Who is Ella Adler?
Officials said Ella, a ballerina, lived in Miami Beach and attended Ransom Everglades High School in Miami.
“She was a force of nature and everyone felt a pull toward her when she approached,” her obituary said. “She loved dancing, she loved her friends, and most of all she loved her family.”
According to the Miami Herald, she is the granddaughter of Michael Adler, the current U.S. ambassador to Belgium.
She is survived by her parents Amanda Adler and Matthew Adler, her brothers Jayden and Adalynn, and many other relatives.
Reward offered in Ella Adler boat hit-and-run death
A reward of $20,000 is being offered for information in this case, including $10,000 from Eller’s family and $10,000 from FWC and Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers.
Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact these agencies.
Natalie Neisa Alland is a senior reporter at USA TODAY. Contact her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her at X @nataliealund.
