MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers are investigating a hit-and-run boating crash in Biscayne Bay that they say left a father dead and his son injured on Wednesday night.
The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. in the Meloy Channel, near Indian Creek and Biscayne Pointe off Miami Beach.
According to investigators, the father and son were aboard a seven-foot dinghy when another vessel struck them, ejecting both into the water.
Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews recovered the victims and transported them to a nearby hospital. Authorities said the father, who been identified as Davide Veglia of North Miami, died from his injuries.
They said the son survived and was taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center. His age or condition have not been released.
FWC officials say the boat that struck the father and son fled the scene. It is described as a dark blue vessel, approximately 20 to 30 feet long, with two outboard motors.
They said it was last seen heading northbound from the Meloy Channel.
Miami Beach high school students Enzo Avelino and Samuel Lodono were doing landscape work at a house on Biscayne Point when they heard screaming.
“You could hear his voice like cracking, he was yelling so loud,” said Avelino. “He started saying, ‘Help, help, help.’”
Neighbors said they were heartbroken after hearing about the hit-and-run.
“It’s devastating,” said Pascile Padiou, who lives nearby. “You think about your family, you think that you are going boating with your son, its fun, its nice and that’s a terrible accident, the most thing is that its a hit and run, I mean that’s horrible.”
South Florida resident Larry Scheiger said he actually saw the dinghy last night and noticed that it didn’t have any lights on.
“People need to be very careful when they are boating at night, it’s very dangerous out here specially with a small boat,” he said. “It’s very tragic. I have a young son who I bought the little boat for and safety is all I ever taught Finn. You gotta be safe, safe, safe, and not driving around at night. Always come home before dark.”
FWC Officer George Reynaud asked anyone who witnessed the incident or may have video to come forward.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922 or the Miami Beach Police Department at 305-673-7900.
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