Miami

Ashes of Miami Woman Killed in Boat Crash Placed on Ocean Floor

The family of a South Florida woman who died in a boating accident in the Bahamas gathered Wednesday for a memorial at sea off Miami Beach.

Paloma de Mazieres would have turned 26 Wednesday but instead of a party family members came together in her memory.

"It's very emotional but we know Paloma would have loved to have all of her friends getting together and family to be here for her," mother Laure de Mazieres said.

A star containing her ashes was taken to the bottom of the ocean and placed on the Neptune Memorial Reef by divers.

"She loves the ocean, this is perfect for her," father Christian de Mazieres said.

Paloma died in a boat crash while vacationing last May in the Bahamas. The family's attorney says the boat driver, George Prendes Jr., is suspected of being drunk at the time of the crash but criminal charges were never filed.

"We would like to have some answers, we would like to have some justice served," Laure said. "Paloma was a wonderful girl."

The family has filed a civil lawsuit against Prendes Jr. in U.S. federal court. Prendes' attorney had no comment Wednesday.

"This is for our daughter, it's not for us, it's just for our memory, we have to fight for her," Christian said.

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