MIAMI – The spouse and children of Trevonte Johnson is calling for witnesses to arrive forward following he died soon after going overboard in the Miami River on Saint Patrick’s Working day.
They say his loss of life was avoidable and avoidable.
In a press convention Tuesday, legal professionals for the loved ones allege the boat rental enterprise failed to maintain safety and lacked right products for h2o emergencies.
CBS Information Miami attained out to rentboatinmiami.com for remark about these allegations. They have however to answer.
Dude Rubin, the attorney for Johnson’s relatives says he was in town to rejoice a friend’s birthday.
They were out on a boat, but the lawyers assert the 6 people today onboard never ever acquired a basic safety demonstration and there was no lifetime-preserving equipment on hand.
“[There] Should’ve been daily life jackets offered for all people on that boat because at the time they rented that boat and the captain of that boat made a decision to choose them out. Their security was in his fingers,” said the Johnson’s aunt Jestine Mathews.
People did soar in the river to check out and assistance Johnson but they ended up unsuccessful. Rubin says whilst in the water, Johnson was also strike by one more boat.
“I sense like if he would’ve had on a everyday living jacket that boat might’ve been able to recognize him in the h2o,” stated Mathews.
Now, they’re contacting on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation and Miami Police to investigate items more and for far more witnesses to appear forward.
“Officers and regulation enforcement will have to patrol and command to make certain security on the drinking water. Rental boats will have to be correctly outfitted. The captains and care need to be adequately educated with basic safety as job quantity 1,” stated Rubin.
Back again in February, one more man fell into the Miami River whilst on a rental boat. Rubin claims they are hoping to steer clear of this going on all over again.
The legal professionals for Johnson’s spouse and children say they don’t know where by this incident stands in phrases of formal investigations. They’ve reached out to the FWC but have not read something.
