A well-known South Florida real estate developer now faces a murder charge in connection with a boat accident in 2022 near Boca Chita Key that killed one teenager and left another permanently disabled.

Miami-Dade prosecutors are charging George Pino with vessel homicide/reckless operation in the Sept. 4, 2022, crash, according to court records filed Wednesday.

The new charge is a second-degree felony, with a possible sentence of up to 15 years in prison if convicted.

Pino, 54, was driving the 29-foot boat with 14 passengers on board when it crashed into a channel marker near Boca Chita Key, according to prosecutors and officials with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The boat capsized and all passengers were thrown into the water.

The accident killed Luciana Fernández, 17, a senior at Nuestra Señora de Lourdes Academy in Miami, and injured most of the ship’s passengers, including Katerina Puig, who was 18 at the time and was permanently injured. disabled.

Katerina Puig, one of the teenagers seriously injured in a boat accident in September 2022, received her high school diploma from Our Lady of Lourdes Academy. NBC6’s Laura Rodríguez reports

Pino was initially accused of Misdemeanors including careless boating.

An incident report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said 61 empty alcohol bottles and cans, an empty champagne bottle and a half-consumed liquor bottle were found on the boat, but no one admitted to consuming alcohol.

Pino refused to take a breathalyzer test after the crash, authorities said. Authorities also initially said Pino was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol while driving the boat.

The FWC incident report said Pino “operated his vessel in a careless manner by violating four boating rules.” The boat was traveling between 45 and 47 miles per hour, which the FWC said was a factor in the accident.

Pino had pleaded not guilty to the misdemeanors last year.

Charges have been filed against a boat operator in a crash that killed a high school senior over Labor Day weekend near Boca Chita Key. NBC6’s Niko Clemmons reports

An attorney representing Pino’s family issued a statement after the initial charges were announced.

“The FWC and the State Attorney’s Office have conclusively confirmed that this was not an alcohol-related accident. Multiple witnesses observed another boat creating an extra-large wake causing a loss of control,” the statement read. “George and Cecilia Pino are devastated by the passing of Lucy and the serious injuries suffered by Katy and others. The Pinos have already pledged their life savings to compensate and provide medical support to all those affected by this horrific accident. Continue praying every day for every person and family that was involved.”

Puig’s parents filed a lawsuit against Pino and his wife, Cecilia Pino, who accused George Pino of drinking before the accident and claimed that he and his wife gave alcohol to the teenagers on the boat.

The demand was reached a settlement earlier this year for $16 million.

The Puig family reacted on Thursday to the new accusation against Pino in a statement.

“The Puig family is grateful for the State’s continued efforts to prosecute Mr. Pino for his reckless operation of his boat while transporting 12 teenagers that resulted in the death of Lucy Fernández,” the statement read.