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Tycoon Arrested After Allegedly Hitting And Killing His 11-Year-Old Son With His Boat While Drunk
Authorities believe Javier Burillo's two sons were thrown from their boat after hitting a wave and were then struck by the vessel as he tried to get them back on board.
A Mexican tycoon has been arrested after allegedly running over his sons with his boat—killing one and injuring the other—after they were thrown from the vessel just off Angel Island in San Francisco Bay.
Javier Burillo, 57, is now facing charges of vehicular manslaughter while operating a vehicle, willful harm or injury to a child and reckless or negligent operation of a vessel after authorities said he had been operating the boat after drinking, ABC News reports.
Burillo comes from one of the richest and most powerful families in Mexico and is a wealthy property developer known for building lavish hotels and restaurants, according to The Associated Press. Property records list his full name as Javier Burillo Azcarraga, linking the wealthy developer to the Azcarraga family, which is known for founding Group Televisa SA, a Spanish-language media empire.
Burillo and his two sons—ages 11 and 27—had struck out on a boating trip to San Francisco Sunday and were returning to the Corinthian Yacht Club in Tiburon when Tiburon Police Chief Mike Cronin said authorities believe the 33-foot Protector boat hit a wave, knocking both sons into the water just off Angel Island, the Marin Independent Journal reports.
The sons were struck by Burillo’s boat as he allegedly tried to help the pair back into the vessel. Burillo first pulled his 27-year-old son back on board and then the pair worked together to retrieve the 11-year-old. After both sons were back in the boat, they drove to the Corinthian Yacht Club to meet first responders.
“Tragically and unfortunately, one child sustained severe traumatic injuries as result of this incident and his death was pronounced on the scene at the yacht club, dockside,” a release from the Marin County Sheriff’s Office said.
Burillo’s older son suffered cuts to his leg and was transported to the MarinHealth Medical Center, where he remains hospitalized.
“It’s a tragedy,” Cronin said at a press conference, according to the local paper. “We’re all heartsick about this. … It’s every parent’s worst nightmare.”
Burillo was given a breathalyzer test by law enforcement, which he allegedly failed.
Authorities have not released the name of the 11-year-old victim due to his age.
Burillo was arrested and taken into custody Sunday at his multi-million dollar Belvedere home, KGO reports. He posted $1 million in bail Monday afternoon.
