Key West, FL – Nearly eight months after a deadly boat crash in the Florida Keys claimed the life of a Hialeah woman, authorities have arrested the vessel’s operator. Reinaldo Aquit, a 48-year-old resident of Miami Beach, was taken into custody on Friday, June 20, 2025, in connection with the incident that occurred on November 7, 2024.
The crash took place in the Calda Channel, situated just north of Key West. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), which led the investigation, Aquit was operating a 39-foot speed boat at the time. The vessel was participating in a multi-day Poker Run event, a popular organized boating activity that typically involves participants traveling a set route, often from Miami to Key West, stopping at designated locations to draw playing cards.
Details of the November Incident
Sources familiar with the investigation and initial reports from the scene indicate the 39-foot speed boat was carrying a total of seven passengers, including the operator, Aquit, during the November 7, 2024 leg of the Poker Run. The FWC’s preliminary findings suggest that the crash was a direct result of Aquit’s alleged actions.
Authorities stated that Aquit was driving the high-performance vessel in a careless and reckless manner, operating at high speeds within the channel. Furthermore, the FWC alleges that Aquit was disregarding established navigational rules intended to ensure safety on the waterways. This alleged combination of excessive speed and neglect of rules culminated in a sudden, sharp turn.
This abrupt maneuver reportedly caused the large speed boat to lose stability, resulting in it rolling over. The violent motion of the rollover tragically ejected six of the seven occupants from the vessel into the water.
Victim Identified
Among those ejected was 28-year-old Stephanie Rodriguez, a woman from Hialeah, Florida. Ms. Rodriguez sustained fatal injuries as a result of the crash and was pronounced dead. The incident sent shockwaves through the tight-knit South Florida boating community and the cities from which the participants hailed.
While details regarding the conditions of the other passengers were not extensively detailed in the initial information provided, the ejection of a majority of the boat’s occupants underscores the violence of the rollover event.
Charges Filed
Following a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash, the FWC, as the primary state agency responsible for boating accident investigations, filed charges against Aquit. The most serious charge brought against him is a felony count of vessel homicide. This charge typically applies when the operation of a boat in a negligent or reckless manner results in a death.
In addition to the felony charge, Aquit is also facing multiple misdemeanor counts. These include five separate counts of public order crimes and three counts of health and safety violations. The specific nature of these misdemeanor charges often relates to regulatory infractions, such as failing to adhere to specific boating regulations, safety equipment requirements, or operational rules, but the exact basis for each count was not immediately elaborated upon by authorities.
Legal Proceedings Begin
Upon his arrest on June 20, 2025, Reinaldo Aquit was booked into custody. His bond was subsequently set at $500,000. This substantial amount reflects the gravity of the charges he faces, particularly the felony vessel homicide count.
Aquit’s initial court appearance, known as an arraignment, has been scheduled for July 3. During the arraignment, he is expected to formally enter a plea to the charges brought against him.
Official Response
Speaking on the tragic outcome of the November crash and the subsequent arrest, FWC Major Alberto Maza commented on the preventability of the death. Major Maza was quoted as stating that Stephanie Rodriguez’s death was “avoidable.”
His statement underscores the authorities’ perspective on the incident, suggesting that the crash and its fatal consequence were not unavoidable accidents but rather the result of actions that potentially violated boating safety laws and common sense.
The arrest of Aquit marks a significant step in the legal process stemming from the November 7, 2024 tragedy. The case will now move through the court system as prosecutors pursue the charges filed by the FWC. The outcome of the arraignment on July 3 and subsequent legal proceedings will determine the course of action for Aquit regarding the fatal boat crash that occurred during the Key West Poker Run.
