15-year-old ballerina killed in hit-and-run boat crash while water skiing in Florida

A 15-year-old ballerina was killed after a boat collided with her while she was waterskiing, and then proceeded to flee the scene.

Teen ballerina killed in horror boat crash.

A 15-year-old ballerina was killed in a hit-and-run boat crash while water skiing in Miami over the weekend, officials said.

Ella Riley Adler, a student at Ransom Everglades School, was enjoying an idyllic Saturday afternoon celebrating a friend’s birthday in Key Biscayne’s Nixon Beach when a boat collided with her before speeding away, according to Miami-based TV station WSVN.

Ella, a dancer with Miami City Ballet, was left bobbing in the water as first responders reported “a lot of blood” coming from her body.

Ella Riley Adler, 15, was killed in a hit-and-run boat crash Saturday.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), who are investigating the hit-and-run, said no suspect has been identified yet as authorities put out a $US20,000 ($30,000) reward for tips leading to an arrest, along with $US5,000 ($8,000) more from Miami Crime Stoppers.

The FWC said Ella was in the water wearing her life vest and skis when a boat, described as light blue with a darker blue bottom, struck her.

One witness said Ella was struck by the centre console of the fishing boat, which did not appear to swerve or slow down when it approached the teen, NBC 6 reports.

The case has left Ella’s family and community reeling over the loss of the young dancer who had more than 100 performances with Miami City Ballet.

“Miami City Ballet School are utterly devastated by the heartbreaking news of this tragic accident,” the dance company said in a statement.

The teen’s funeral was held Monday.

“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,” it adds.

A funeral service was held Monday for Ella at the Temple Beth Shalom synagogue, where friends and family touted the Ransom Everglades School student’s talent and radiant personality.

“Her magnetism radiated on the stage, where she belonged and thrived,” her obituary read. “Her love of dance continued at Ransom Everglades, where she performed on the dance team and, just a few weeks ago, in the school play.”

No suspect has been identified.

Her family added that Ella was a proud member of the Ransom Everglades Jewish Students Association and granddaughter of Holocaust survivors.

Ransom Everglades head of school Rachel Rodriguez, described Ella as an ideal student whose death has rocked the community.

“Our hearts are broken and our community has been devastated by this tragedy. Ella shined in our classrooms and on our stages, and she embodied the mission of Ransom Everglades School,” Ms Rodriguez said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and has been republished with permission