The captain of an overloaded boat that capsized in New York Harbor, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her infant daughter, is now in federal custody. Manuel Hernandez, 46, faces potential federal charges as investigators examine whether he was operating an illegal charter business.
Federal charges could be announced as soon as Monday. Hernandez had previously been taken into NYPD custody on 13 reckless endangerment charges, but these are no longer being pursued at the local level as the federal investigation progresses. Investigators are looking into whether the motorboat, carrying 14 people including Hernandez, was overloaded when it flipped over near Liberty Island.
The U.S. Coast Guard had previously stated it was investigating the incident as a potential illegal charter operation. Such operations require specific U.S. Coast Guard credentials, safety equipment, and a certificate of inspection, which authorities are examining if Hernandez's business possessed.
Two passengers, Sara Sanchez, 27, and her 5-month-old daughter Antonella Garcia, were pronounced dead at NYU Langone Brooklyn hospital after being rushed there in critical condition. The remaining 11 passengers were rescued from the water and taken to the same hospital with minor injuries. Sanchez's boyfriend and Garcia's father was among those on board but survived.
The vessel, a 2019 white 21-foot Yamaha motorboat, overturned shortly before 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, prompting a large-scale rescue operation involving the Coast Guard, FDNY, and NYDP. The cause of the capsizing is still under investigation. Hernandez was transferred to federal custody after receiving treatment at Maimonides Medical Center.