A 15-year-old ballerina tragically died in a horror hit-and-run boat crash while water skiing off a Miami beach.

Ella Riley Adler lost her life on Saturday afternoon off the coat of Key Biscayne’s Nixon Beach, when a boater collided with her before speeding away from the scene.

The suspected driver of the boat has not yet been arrested, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said the boater was last seen speeding away from the scene heading west from Nixon Beach.

Adler was reportedly celebrating a friend’s birthday at the time of the crash, and a first responder told WSVN they arrived on the scene to find ‘a lot of blood in the water.’

Tributes have poured in for the talented Florida teen after her tragic death, with her family saying that ‘when she walked into a room, everyone was drawn to her.’

+10
View gallery

Ella Riley Adler, 15, tragically died Saturday off the coat of Miami’s Nixon Beach in a horror hit-and-run boat crash while water skiing

+10
View gallery

Ella’s (center) devastated family described her as a ‘force of nature’ who ‘loved to dance’, and she was a celebrated local ballerina with the Miami City Ballet

+10
View gallery

Officials said the boater who struck and killed Ella fled the scene in a blue and white boat, and is still being sought by police

+10
View gallery

A first responder revealed that when they arrived on the scene of the crash (pictured), officials found ‘a lot of blood in the water’

According to the FWC, who are still investigating the crash, the teen was struck and killed while out on the water celebrating with her friends, but was not actively water skiing when she was hit.

FWC spokesperson George Reynaud said she was in the water at the time ‘wearing a life vest’ with ‘ski boards still on her feet’, before the fishing boat struck her.

Reynaud added that the pilot of the boat that hit her is still being sought by officials, and described the vessel as ‘white to light blue in color, with blue or dark blue bottom paint.’

The boat likely had two wide board engines, he said, ‘but it could be up to four wide board engines based on different witness reports.’

Authorities are offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to the suspect, including $5,000 from Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers.

Ella’s devastated family said she ‘loved to dance’, and the teenager was a celebrated local ballerina who was cast in performances of The Nutcracker.

In that role, she appeared over 100 times for the Miami City Ballet, and her family said her ‘magnetism radiated on the stage, where she belonged and thrived.’

+10
View gallery

Ella was a celebrated local ballerina who was cast in performances of The Nutcracker, performing over 100 times for the Miami City Ballet

+10
View gallery

Ella (center), a talented ballerina, ‘radiated on stage’ and her family said she ‘belonged and thrived’ while performing

+10
View gallery

Tributes poured in for the Florida teen after her tragic death, as officials said that she was wearing her life jacket and celebrating a friend’s birthday

In an obituary for the 15-year-old, Ella was described as a ‘star’ and a ‘force of nature.’

‘When she was near, everyone felt a gravitational pull toward her,’ the tribute read.

‘In her 15 years on this earth, she dazzled us with her light. She emanated love and joy. She was beautiful.’

Ella’s father runs Florida-based property company Adler Group, and she lived in a sprawling $7.3 million mansion in an affluent Miami Beach neighborhood.

‘She loved her friends, and most of all she loved her family — her parents, Amanda and Matthew, and her younger siblings Jaden and Adalynn,’ her family said.

The Miami City Ballet told DailyMail.com in a statement that it was ‘utterly devastated’ by the news of her death.

‘Ella Adler was not just a beloved student and a magnificent dancer who graced our stage in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker; she was an integral part of our family, radiating potential and promise whose kindness, warmth, and infectious joy were known to all,’ the statement read.

‘Our hearts go out to Ella’s family, friends, and everyone who had the privilege of knowing and adoring her.

‘As we come together, we will profoundly grieve the loss of Ella, and hold dear the precious memories we were fortunate enough to create with her.’

+10
View gallery

The talented teenager’s school said she ‘shined in our classrooms and on our stages’

+10
View gallery

Ella’s father runs Florida-based property company Adler Group, and she lived in a sprawling $7.3 million mansion (pictured) in an affluent Miami Beach neighborhood

Ella attended $51,000-a-year Miami Beach private school Ransom Everglades, which said it was devastated by her loss.

Head of School Rachel Rodriguez said she ‘shined in our classrooms and on our stages’, and ’embodied the mission of Ransom Everglades School.’

‘She was an outstanding student, a wonderful dancer and an active member of the Jewish Student Association and speech and debate team,’ Rodriguez said.

Ella’s obituary also noted that she was ‘proud to be Jewish and was a member of the Ransom Everglades Jewish Students Association.’

‘She was the great-granddaughter of Holocaust survivors. She loved Israel and came from a long line of Jewish leaders with a strong commitment to faith and tikkun olam,’ the tribute read.

‘She wore her identity proudly and loudly, just like her parents.’

Relative Articles

None found