Davide Veglia Miami CEO killed and 14-year-old son injured in Biscayne Bay hit and run as Florida officials seek second vessel multi powered engine that struck 7ft dinghy boat only to flee scene.
Florida authorities are seeking the whereabouts of the occupant(s) of a boat alleged to have struck another boat which left a 55-year-old Miami CEO dead and his 14-year-old son hospitalized before fleeing the scene.
On Wednesday, March 25, around 8:11 p.m., first responders were dispatched to Biscayne Bay following reports of a small vessel that had been involved in a hit-and-run, WTVJ reported.
The father and son were aboard a seven-foot inflatable dinghy in the Meloy Channel near Indian Creek and Biscayne Pointe when they were hit by another boat and ejected into the water. The two victims were recovered by rescue teams and transported to a nearby hospital.
Screams for help
Davide Veglia, the 55-year-old founder of ABTS Convention Services, died of his injuries, according to the reports. As of Thursday, March 26, his 14-year-old son remained at the hospital with a broken arm, WPLG reported.
That evening, two teenagers were landscaping nearby and heard the crash. They called 911 after hearing the child scream for help, according to WPLG.
‘Help, help, help!’ He said it like three times and the third time it just went silent,’ Samuel Londoño told press. ‘And right after that, it just went silent. We couldn’t hear anything else and that right after a boat came super fast.’
‘I yelled for him to float before the cops came, and he floated. He was, like, floating there with his dad, holding him,’ second teen, Enzo Avelino said. ‘The dad was unconscious when they got him and brought him back.’
Was larger vessel aware that they had hit dinghy boat?
The other vessel that left the scene was described by officials as a dark blue boat with black bottom paint. The vessel is about 20 to 30 feet long, with potentially four outboard motors. It was last seen on Wednesday evening, between 7:45 and 8:15 p.m., heading north from the Meloy Channel in the bay.
Officials stated it was unclear if the smaller boat had its lights on at the time of the crash.
Police have not identified the operator of the boat and no arrests have been made.
Following the fatal crash, Veglia was being remembered by loved ones.
‘I can’t stand God took this man, too young,’ Joao Moraes said of the death of his friend, ‘I lost my best friend.’
Veglia founded the medical communications firm in 1995 when he was a 25-year-old international student.
The company has offices in Miami, San Francisco, Rome and Belgrade, according to his LinkedIn page.
Anyone with information about the crash or video footage is urged to call the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
