A woman killed as the result of a tragic Nov. 7 boat crash in Key West has been identified by authorities as a 28-year-old Hialeah woman.
Stephanie Rodriguez, the woman killed in the incident, was among several people who were ejected into the water after the driver of a 39-foot Deep Impact, four-engine vessel made a sharp right turn as it traveled through the Calda Channel north of Key West. The passengers were rushed to the hospital for treatment and Rodriguez died from her injuries.
That day, over 100 boats were in the area participating in the Key West Poker Run, a 32-year tradition of racing on the water put on by the Florida Powerboat Club. The operator of the vessel involved in the crash is a member of the Florida Powerboat Club and was participating in the annual run from Miami to Key West this week to celebrate the Race World Offshore World Championship speedboat races, according to reporting from The Miami Herald.
In reporting from NBC 5 South Florida, family members described her as generous, someone who loved to travel and who “lit up every room she went into.”
As of Wednesday, the crash remains under investigation by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and there has been no confirmation whether or not the boat’s operator will face charges in the incident.
A GoFundMe page has been set up by friends of the family to help with funeral expenses.
Leesfield & Partners
In annual data released by the FWC concerning boat crashes in the state, 659 boat crashes were reported statewide in 2023. The leading accident type for that year was a crash with a fixed object, which accounted for 182 of the 659 reported collisions. There were 56 fatal crashes that resulted in the death of at least 59 people in 2023.
In Monroe County, where the Nov. 7 crash took place, there were a total of 87 accidents on the water resulting in 62 injuries. As a result of these collisions, at least three people died in Monroe County in 2023.
In nearly five decades of personal injury practice, Leesfield & Partners attorneys have developed considerable expertise when it comes to litigating on behalf of the victims and families affected by crashes on Florida waters. In that time, the firm has advocated for the best possible outcome for their clients injured in jet ski crashes, boat crashes, boat fires and other horrific incidents. While no settlement amount can reverse the permanent, emotional and physical damage caused by one of these incidents, they can help to alleviate the financial burdens of unexpected medical bills, long-term care and for any loss of wages.
Whether the case involves a minor whose leg was amputated as the result of negligent supervision during boating activities or a Key West diver who was tragically struck and needlessly killed by a passing boater violating divers-down flag laws, Leesfield & Partners attorneys aggressively pursue justice on behalf of their clients.
The latter of which involves a case recently settled by Bernardo Pimentel II, a Trial Lawyer with the firm. In that case, the maximum, capped settlement amount was secured for the family of a lobster diver killed by a negligent law enforcement officer who did not adhere to divers-down flag requirements that stipulate boaters must operate at idle speed within 300 feet of the flag when in open water or within 100 feet when in inlets and or navigational channels. Divers must stay within the outlined distance of their flags.
In one case, attorneys with the firm handled a case involving the death of a minor snorkeling with his family when he was hit by a passing boat. The boat, driven by another child, did not stop. The child, known by neighbors to drive recklessly, attempted to cover up evidence and lied to police when questioned about the incident.
The case was settled by Leesfield & Partners attorneys for $1.7 million.
The firm previously represented the family of a young woman killed when the boat she was on, operated by a person who was drunk and speeding at night, crashed into a concrete dock. Leesfield & Partners attorneys secured a seven-figure settlement for the woman’s family in that case.
A wrongful death case handled by the firm involving a jet ski crash resulted in a $2.8 million settlement for the grieving family.
In a parasailing incident in Key West that killed two young people, Leesfield & Partners secured back-to-back judgments of $17 million and $15 million for the families.
In a case involving a boating and jet ski crash, the firm secured $935,750 for an injured woman against a boating corporation involved in the incident.
If you or a loved one were involved in a Florida boat crash or another water-related incident resulting in severe injury or death, don’t wait. Contact Leesfield & Partners today at 305-854-4900.