Tugboat captain sobs in court as he admits plowing into three young girls and killing them – as it’s revealed he was looking at his PHONE while sailing

A Florida tugboat captain broke down in tears in court as he pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of three young girls after his vessel ploughed into their sailboat, with prosecutors revealing he had been looking at his phone rather than watching the water at the time of the collision. The case has drawn attention to the dangers of distracted operation of commercial vessels, particularly around smaller recreational boats carrying children.

The girls were killed when the tugboat struck their sailboat in an incident that occurred during what appears to have been a camp or youth sailing outing near Miami, Florida. The captain's emotional courtroom admission and the confirmation that he was distracted by his phone rather than monitoring his surroundings are likely to be central factors in his sentencing.