Florida Men Charged in Tragic Boating Hit-and-Run Death of Teen Ballerina Ella Adler

In a heartbreaking incident that has left a community in mourning, two Florida men have been charged in connection with a fatal boating hit-and-run that claimed the life of 15-year-old Ella Adler, a promising ballerina and high school freshman. The tragedy unfolded in May 2024 at Key Biscayne’s Nixon Beach, south of Miami, where Ella was wakeboarding with a friend before being struck by a fleeing boat.

Carlos "Bill" Alonso, 79, faces charges for violating two U.S. Coast Guard navigational rules, while Edmund Hartley, 31, is charged with breaching four such regulations, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC). The devastating event occurred as Ella and her friend fell into the water at different spots while being towed by a boat carrying a dozen people. A second vessel, later identified as Alonso’s Boston Whaler with distinctive blue bottom paint, allegedly struck Ella and sped away.

Alonso’s attorney insists it was a tragic accident, not negligence, claiming he was unaware of the collision. Meanwhile, the loss of Ella—a vibrant talent who performed in over 100 shows with the Miami City Ballet and a proud Jewish-American with a deep family legacy—has struck a chord far beyond the shores of Miami. Her light, as her family described, dazzled everyone she touched.

As the legal process unfolds with both men pleading not guilty to charges of careless operation of a vessel, the broader conversation turns to boating safety. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava echoed this sentiment, urging the community to honor Ella’s memory by preventing such tragedies through heightened vigilance on the water.

This case isn’t just about accountability—it’s a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the responsibility we bear when navigating shared spaces. Ella’s story, cut tragically short, calls for more than condolences; it demands action.