A 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old daughter were killed after a motorboat carrying 14 people capsized near Liberty Island in New York Harbor late Saturday, prompting a large overnight rescue operation. The New York Police Department said emergency crews responded shortly before 11 p.m. after reports of an overturned vessel. Twelve people were rescued and taken to hospitals with minor injuries, while Sara Sanchez, 27, and her daughter, 5-month-old Antonella Garcia, were later pronounced dead.
A nearby Sea the City sightseeing vessel helped pull 11 people from the water before emergency crews arrived, according to the company. NYPD harbor, scuba and aviation units also responded to the scene. Authorities identified the vessel as a 22-foot bowrider powerboat, while other reports described it as a Bayliner speedboat. Investigators have not yet determined what caused the vessel to capsize.
Police identified the boat’s operator as Manuel Hernandez, 46, of New York. Hernandez was arrested Sunday and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. Authorities are also examining whether the vessel was being operated as an illegal passenger charter at the time of the incident. Such operations can involve vessels carrying paying passengers without required credentials, safety equipment or inspection certificates.
The U.S. Coast Guard, Coast Guard Investigative Service and NYPD are jointly investigating the capsizing, including the vessel’s operating status and whether safety requirements were followed. Coast Guard officials praised the response by emergency personnel and civilians who assisted with the rescue while offering condolences to the victims’ family. The cause of the capsizing remains under investigation.
