A Cuban millionaire has been identified as the person responsible for the tragic accident that occurred last Saturday in Biscayne Bay, Miami, resulting in the death of a 15-year-old girl who was water skiing. Carlos Guillermo Alonso, aged 78, who arrived in the United States in the 1960s through the Pedro Pan Operation, has been named as the pilot of the boat that struck the young girl and then fled the scene.
Alonso, a businessman in the tech sector, heads Technical Systems & Equipment Corp., a company based in Doral specializing in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems that he founded in 1979. His wife, Magaly Alonso, serves as the vice president. According to the Miami Herald, the company has a second office located in Palm Beach Gardens. The couple also runs other businesses.
The Alonsos have two children and several grandchildren and own a massive mansion valued between $3.5 and $4 million in Coral Gables, specifically in the exclusive community of Hammock Oaks, which features private schools and lakes. The residence, approximately 5,600 square feet, includes four bedrooms, four bathrooms, a pool, and its own dock. It was there that authorities found his 42-foot Boston Whaler, which was subsequently seized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
Authorities confirmed that it was Alonso who struck and killed Ella Adler, a 15-year-old freshman at Ransom Everglades School in Coconut Grove. The elderly man was the sole occupant of the boat and did not stop after the accident, according to the FWC report. The young girl from Miami Beach was with several friends celebrating a birthday that day. She fell off her wakeboard about a mile from the shore and was being towed by another boat when she was hit by Alonso's Boston Whaler.
"Ella was waiting to be picked up by her boat, wearing a life jacket and still attached to her wakeboard, when another boat struck her. She died from her injuries," Officer George Reynaud told ABC.
Lauren Field Krasnoff, Alonso's attorney, told NBC Miami that her client is overwhelmed and did not know what had happened until authorities arrived at his home. "We don't know at this moment if Carlos or his boat were involved in the accident. If his boat was involved, I can tell you he had no idea what happened that day. He is devastated," she emphasized.
"He docked his boat in plain sight and, most importantly, has cooperated with authorities and anyone needing to investigate what happened on the water that day," she said. Krasnoff stressed that Alonso is an "experienced navigator who knows these waters," and in 50 years, he has never committed any offense. "He doesn't drink and wasn't drinking that Saturday," she added.
Following the news of the teenager's death, a reward of up to $20,000 was offered for information about the boat or its owner. The FWC and the Miami-Dade Police also offered up to $5,000, and the victim's family added another $10,000.
Key Questions About the Biscayne Bay Tragedy
In light of the recent accident in Biscayne Bay involving a Cuban millionaire and a 15-year-old skier, here are some important questions and answers that provide further insight into the incident.
Who is Carlos Guillermo Alonso?
Carlos Guillermo Alonso is a 78-year-old Cuban millionaire who emigrated to the United States in the 1960s through the Pedro Pan Operation. He is a businessman in the tech sector and the head of Technical Systems & Equipment Corp.
What happened in Biscayne Bay?
A tragic accident occurred in Biscayne Bay where a boat piloted by Carlos Guillermo Alonso struck and killed 15-year-old Ella Adler while she was water skiing. Alonso fled the scene, and his boat was later seized by authorities.
How has Carlos Guillermo Alonso responded to the allegations?
Alonso, through his attorney Lauren Field Krasnoff, claims he was unaware of the accident until authorities informed him. He has cooperated with the investigation and maintains that he is devastated by the incident.