A woman died, and a man suffered critical injuries after being thrown from their boat and run over by the unmanned vessel in Miami’s Biscayne Bay on Saturday, marking the second fatal boating incident in the area within one week.

Deadly Sequence of Events

Claudia Orellanes and Neil Schwabe were ejected from their 27-foot boat near West Point and Crandon Park Marina on Saturday morning. The vessel then circled back without anyone aboard, struck both victims in the water, and continued speeding away on its own. Orellanes was recovered after a brief search but succumbed to her injuries. Emergency responders airlifted Schwabe to a local hospital in serious condition. Dramatic footage captured by local media shows the dual-motor boat spinning in chaotic circles across the bay before a law enforcement vessel intercepted and stopped it.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission launched an investigation into what caused the boaters to be thrown from their vessel. Authorities have not released additional details about the circumstances leading to the ejection or whether mechanical failure, operator error, or environmental conditions played a role in the tragedy.

Second Fatal Incident In Days

The deadly crash occurred just days after another fatal boating accident claimed the life of Davide Veglia, founder and president of South Florida-based ABTS Convention Services. Veglia died Wednesday evening after a larger boat struck the seven-foot dinghy he was operating with his teenage son in a channel off Miami Beach around 8 p.m. The collision threw both father and son into the water. Witness Enzo Avelino recalled the father floating unconscious after the impact. The son survived, but Veglia died from his injuries. The larger vessel fled the scene, and authorities continue searching for the boat and its operator. No arrests have been made in that case.

Safety Concerns Mount

The two fatal incidents within one week have raised urgent questions about boating safety in one of South Florida’s busiest waterways. Biscayne Bay attracts thousands of recreational boaters throughout the year, particularly during spring months when weather conditions draw increased marine traffic. Florida consistently ranks among states with the highest number of boating accidents and fatalities annually. The dual tragedies highlight the dangers of both hit-and-run operators who flee accident scenes and unmanned vessels that become uncontrolled hazards to other boaters and swimmers in crowded waters.