Allegedly Drunk Deerfield Beach Boater Charged With Vessel Homicide of Passenger
An article about criminal charges against a Deerfield Beach man caught the attention of our Fort Lauderdale wrongful death lawyers. According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Mandy J. Romeu, 42, is charged with vessel homicide in the death of Christopher Smith, 31, of Boynton Beach. Romeu is accused of being under the influence of alcohol and possibly speeding when he ran his speedboat into a marker in the Intracoastal Waterway near Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. He is also accused of operating a vehicle recklessly and violating navigational rules. He was released from Palm Beach County jail May 10 on $25,000 bail.
A spokesman for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said Romeu admitted that he’d been drinking the night of the crash. Specifically, he told authorities that he’d had four rum and Cokes between 7 p.m. and midnight on May 7, including while he was behind the wheel as well as before. When Romeu set out into the Intracoastal Waterway, neither he nor his two passengers -- Christopher Smith and Smith’s 36-year-old sister, Alexandra Smith -- were wearing life jackets. When the boat hit the marker, Christopher Smith was thrown from the vessel. He was found dead in the water an hour later. The FWCC is currently investigating whether Romeu was intoxicated at the time of the crash, as well as whether he was in a restricted-speed area when the 30-mph crash happened.
As Miami wrongful death lawyers, we’re sorry to see reports about preventable deaths like this one. Florida law makes drinking and boating a crime just like drunk driving, but boaters don’t always pay attention. Because they’re away from obvious enforcement signs like police cruisers, and often boating in a party atmosphere, too many boaters don’t think they need to observe the same rules they’d observe to be safe on the road. Unfortunately, drinking and boating can be even more dangerous, especially when the victims are thrown off the ship. Even if they can swim, they can hit their heads and end up unconscious in the water, or even be sucked into boats’ propellers. Swimmers can also get tired after an hour or more of treading water. The result can be needless deaths or serious, permanent injuries.
Law offices of Sebastian John Balliro, P.A. represents Floridians who have lost a loved one forever because of someone else’s careless or illegal behavior. That includes negligent boating (and driving), including boating under the influence. In cases like this, where criminal charges are being filed, families may prefer to wait for the justice system to play out. But even if there’s a full trial ended with a conviction, it can never help families recover from the serious financial and personal effects of losing a loved one. For example, when a family’s breadwinner is killed, that family is suddenly, unexpectedly and permanently deprived of its income and must scramble to make ends meet while also mourning its loss. Our West Palm Beach wrongful death attorneys help victims claim all of the financial costs of a wrongful death, including all lost income, as well as damages for the loss of a beloved parent, spouse or child.
If you have lost a loved one in Florida because of someone else’s carelessness, you should call Balliro to see how we can help. For a free evaluation of your case, you can reach us toll-free from anywhere in Florida at 1-866-INJURED or send us a message through our website.
