Photo: BFA
Two well-known socialites who were traveling toward Miami from an upscale island were tragically killed on Tuesday after a car they were in fell off the ferry and sunk.
Investigators said that as the ferry was making its way to the mainland, its operator reported that the Mercedes had fallen overboard, police said.
Divers from Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and the Miami-Dade Police Department started searching for the car in the waters below and found it submerged near Government Cut, a manmade shipping channel between Miami Beach and Fisher Island.
Police said the vehicle was recovered, and Afra and Brahms were found dead inside.
Fisher Island is an “exclusive island community off Biscayne Bay,” according to theMiami Herald. The island, which boasts one of the wealthiest zip codes in the country, uses a 24-hour ferry service to take residents and their cars to the Miami Beach mainland, itswebsitesays.
The search for the submerged car went on late into Tuesday night, long enough for the operation to switch from a rescue mission to a recovery mission, theHeraldreported.
According to the outlet, Afra was the driver and Brahms was her passenger.
Afra was reportedly involved in local charities like Kristi House, a nonprofit fighting child abuse and child sex trafficking, and even co-chaired its annual dinner and auction in 2012.
The pair also attended several exclusive events together, includinga private openingat the Mnuchin Gallery in New York City in 2017 andGlenn Ligon’s art lectureat the Miami Design District in 2019.
RELATED VIDEO: Mayday Audio Raises Questions About Circumstances in Dive Boat Fire — Were Passengers Trapped?
The women’s causes of death are pending a Medical Examiner’s report, police said.
“Shortly before 5:00 p.m. today, a vehicle on the Fisher Island ferry ended up in the water for reasons still unknown at this point in time,” Roberto Sosa, president and CEO of Fisher Island, told theHeraldin a statement.
“Fisher Island Community Association is actively assisting the various agencies involved in the ongoing recovery efforts,” Sosa added. “Our thoughts are with all those affected. We cannot confirm any additional details at this point in time.”
source: people.com
