Father killed, son injured in Biscayne Bay boating hit-and-run, investigators say
A father was killed and his 14-year-old son was injured when a dinghy they were on was struck by a boat in Biscayne Bay near Miami Beach on Wednesday night, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
According to the FWC, officers responded to reports of the boating incident around 8:30 p.m. in the Meloy Channel, near Indian Creek and Biscayne Pointe.
The preliminary investigation showed that a father and his son were aboard a 7-foot inflatable dinghy when it was struck by a boat, ejecting them into the water. Investigators said they were unsure if the dinghy was equipped with lights or if they were illuminated.
FWC spokesperson George Renaud said the vessel involved was "an inflatable dinghy" that was not attached to any other boat, and it was unclear if it had lights on. The FWC has recovered the dinghy but has not disclosed its location.
The victims were located and recovered by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, and both were rushed to a hospital.
Two teenage witnesses who saw the aftermath said they heard the son's screams for help as he held up his critically injured father in the water. Enzo Avelino and Samuel Londono were finishing some landscaping work in the area when they heard the screams at around 8 pm.
They also said that the police arrived within minutes after the teen witnesses called 911, transporting the father and son to Jackson Memorial Hospital.
"The boy was holding his wrist and was like cuddled up into the stretcher. The dad was just strapped down with an oxygen mask; he was foaming at the mouth. It was really bad," Avelino said.
The father, identified as North Miami resident Davide Veglia, 55, later died. His son remains in the hospital. The injured son sustained "a fractured arm, a broken arm," according to Renaud, who renewed his plea for public assistance.
"I mean, it's pretty sad because he's not going to have a father figure in his life now," Londono said.
The boat that hit the victims was described as dark blue, approximately 20-30 feet long, and with two outboard motors, according to the FWC.
"We are hoping that if the public has any information or video, we are asking that they help us with the investigation," he said. "We do know that the striking vessel went northbound in the Meloy channel in the area of Indian Creek and Biscayne Point. We are trying to piece together what happened."
Renaud also warned all boaters to "maintain a sharp lookout when you're navigating on the water. Maintain a sharp lookout whether it is daytime or nighttime, that is the message we have year-round."
He urged anyone with information or video to call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.