A prominent Florida real estate developer, George Pino, surrendered to authorities last week, two years after a tragic boat crash off the coast of Miami resulted in the death of a teenage girl. The incident occurred on September 4, 2022, when Pino was operating a 29-foot vessel with his wife and 12 minors on board. The boat collided with a channel marker near Boca Chita Key, leading to the death of 17-year-old Luciana Fernandez and causing serious injuries to two other teenagers.
Pino, who pleaded not guilty to a felony homicide charge related to the crash, appeared in a Miami-Dade Court surrounded by relatives and friends. His attorney expressed surprise at the delayed filing of the charge, emphasizing Pino's lack of impairment during the incident as per the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigation.
Despite declining a blood-alcohol level test immediately after the crash and requesting legal representation, new evidence emerged, including body camera footage showing Pino admitting to consuming alcohol. A Miami-Dade firefighter witness also alleged alcohol played a role in the crash, leading to the reevaluation of the case by prosecutors.
The FWC report revealed the presence of multiple empty alcohol bottles and cans on the boat, although officers at the scene determined Pino was not intoxicated. Pino's attorney highlighted his client's efforts to rescue the injured passengers, including diving under the capsized boat despite sustaining a head injury.
Initially facing misdemeanor charges, which were later dropped, Pino now confronts a felony homicide charge. His next hearing is scheduled for January 8, 2025. The Fernandez family, parents of the deceased teenager, expressed disappointment at the turn of events, hoping for a resolution that acknowledges the accident's tragic nature rather than pursuing a trial.
