Families Mourn 2 Tourists Killed Near Miami Beach

MIAMI BEACH, FL — The families of a Massachusetts man and a Georgia woman are mourning their loss following a deadly personal watercraft accident near Miami Beach on Monday. The victims died after their 10 foot Yamaha slammed into a concrete bridge support. Killed were 30-year-old Julio C. Monteiro of Brockton and 34-year-old Sabrina LaShea Daniels of Atlanta.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which investigates boating accidents, said that the victims were taken to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital, where they succumbed to their injuries. (Sign up for our free Daily Newsletters and Breaking News Alerts for the Miami Beach Patch.)

"All of the members of the FWC want to express our sincere sympathies to the victims and families of the victims involved in this incident,"officials said. "Our thoughts and prayers are with all of them."

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The incident occurred around 5:30 p.m. in the area of Bridge Road causeway, north of MacArthur Causeway. Monteiro was operating the craft and Daniels was his passenger.

"Two subjects on board of the PWC were traveling eastbound towards the causeway, and impacted one of the concrete bridge archway supports while attempting to maneuver the vessel," according to FWC. "Both subjects were ejected into the water."

A GoFundMe page set up to help cover Daniels' funeral expenses had raised $675 of a $20,000 goal as of Tuesday night.

"The FWC would like to take this opportunity to remind all boaters enjoying Florida’s beautiful waterways to do so safely," officials added. "Please wear your life jacket and maintain 360-degree awareness at all times while boating."

FWC said that the crash remains under investigation.

For boating safety tips, visit MyFWC.com/boating.

Photo of Sabrina Daniels courtesy GoFundMe