George Pino ‘reckless’ in crash that killed girl: prosecutor

Key Points:

• Prosecutor Laura Adams argued that George Pino caused a fatal boat crash in Biscayne Bay due to reckless and negligent behavior, including speeding and operating on the wrong side of a busy channel while under the influence of alcohol.
• The crash on September 4, 2022, killed 17-year-old Luciana Fernandez and left another passenger with severe disabilities; Pino was returning to his daughter’s birthday celebration with multiple underage teens onboard, many of whom had consumed alcohol.
• Adams highlighted Pino's repeated lies about the incident, including blaming a non-existent boat and minimizing his alcohol consumption, and emphasized his failure to take responsibility for the tragedy.
• Evidence showed Pino was traveling at 47 mph with 14 people on board, far exceeding safe speeds, and had nine seconds to avoid the crash but failed to act, demonstrating criminal negligence.
• The jury will decide whether to convict Pino of manslaughter and vessel homicide, with potential penalties including up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.