The operator of a boat that capsized in New York Harbor, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her infant daughter, is facing criminal charges as authorities investigate the vessel as a possible illegal charter. The U.S. Coast Guard confirmed the ongoing investigation on Sunday.
The 22-foot Bayliner speedboat overturned around 10:25 p.m. Saturday near Liberty Island. Twelve people were rescued from the water by a Good Samaritan vessel and partner agencies before police arrived. Police divers later recovered the bodies of a 27-year-old woman and a 5-month-old girl from the water. Both were transported to a hospital and pronounced dead. The Coast Guard reported that the other individuals rescued were in stable condition.
Manuel Hernandez, 46, of New York, has been charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment, according to police. His current legal representation or court records were not immediately available.
Captain Doreen McCarthy, the Coast Guard Sector New York commander, expressed condolences to the victims' families and praised the swift actions of rescuers. "We are extremely grateful for the heroic, swift actions of our partner agencies and Good Samaritan vessel who assisted in rescuing survivors from the water," McCarthy stated.
Investigators are working to determine if the vessel was operating as an illegal charter, which is defined by the Coast Guard as any passenger-for-hire operation lacking necessary credentials, safety equipment, and inspection certificates. The victims' identities have not been released pending family notification.