MIAMI – A 24-year-old man was arrested Wednesday, nearly six months after a passenger on his boat died after falling into the waters of Biscayne Bay, authorities said.
Eric Rodriguez, of Miramar, is charged with manslaughter while boating under the influence and vessel homicide/operating in a reckless manner.
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According to his arrest report, Rodriguez was driving his 26-foot Sea Hunt boat at a high rate of speed on the night of Sept. 23, 2023 as it was dark outside and raining.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission officers said the boat was heading north in the Intracoastal Waterway in Biscayne Bay with Rodriguez and six passengers onboard.
GPS data shows that the boat had left Miami Marine Stadium and had been traveling in and out of the channel at about 46 mph in a 30 mph zone, the report stated.
According to the report, as the boat was passing the 79th Street Causeway, one of the passengers, Justin Sosa, moved from the back of the boat to the starboard (right) side of it.
FWC officers said Rodriguez then struck a channel marker in the water, causing Sosa to be thrown from the boat and strike his head on the channel marker.
Rodriguez didn’t stop the boat until other passengers alerted him that Sosa had fallen overboard, authorities said.
Officers said the group searched for Sosa and one passenger called 911.
Rescue divers found Sosa’s body a few hours later in the morning at the bottom of the bay near Channel Marker #20, the report stated.
According to the report, an autopsy revealed that Sosa died from blunt force injuries.
Officers said Rodriguez smelled of an alcoholic beverage as they were speaking with him and said passengers onboard his boat confirmed that he had been drinking vodka while at Miami Marine Stadium.
Toxicology results showed he had a blood-alcohol level of .079 about six hours after the crash, according to the report.