The captain of a boat that capsized near the Statue of Liberty, resulting in the deaths of a 27-year-old woman and a five-month-old girl, has been charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment.
Manuel Hernandez, 46, was allegedly operating the 22-foot bowrider motorboat with 14 people onboard when it overturned around 10:30 p.m. on Saturday in New York Harbor, according to the New York Police Department. Emergency responders found the woman and the infant in critical condition and airlifted them to NYU Langone Hospital, where they were later pronounced dead. Their identities have not been released pending family notification.
A large-scale search and rescue operation was initiated following the incident. Twelve other individuals on the boat were rescued with minor injuries and transported to local hospitals. The New York Post reported that distressed cries from relatives were heard at the hospital.
Multiple units from the FDNY, Harbor, Scuba, and Aviation divisions responded to the scene in the Hudson River, located near Buoy 32 between the Statue of Liberty and the Bay Ridge Anchorage. New York Police Department divers were also involved in rescuing passengers from the water. Footage from the scene showed numerous emergency vessels with flashing lights.
This tragedy occurs just over a month after a seaplane carrying eight people made a hard landing on the East River on July 5. All individuals on board were safely rescued, though two sustained minor injuries and were evaluated by emergency medical services. The NYC Fire Department stated that the Kodiak 100 single-engine turbo prop landed on the water. Passengers were seen being assessed by ambulances after being brought ashore. The seaplane was reportedly flying from East Hampton Town, Long Island. A source associated with the flight operator, Blade Air, suggested that choppy water from passing boats and a thunderstorm may have contributed to the hard landing, potentially cracking a strut and damaging a pontoon.