Boat captain arrested after vessel capsizes near Statue of Liberty, killing woman and child
A boat captain has been arrested and charged with reckless endangerment after a vessel capsized near the Statue of Liberty, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her infant. Authorities are currently investigating whether the boat was operating as an illegal charter.
Why it matters
The incident raises concerns regarding maritime safety regulations and the enforcement of charter boat operations in high-traffic tourist areas.
A woman and her 5-month-old baby died after a boat capsized near Liberty Island in the New York Harbor on Saturday night. The boat’s captain, identified as 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez, was arrested and initially charged by police with 13 counts of reckless endangerment, according to the New York Police Department and the U.S. Coast Guard. Court records were not immediately available, and it was unclear Sunday whether Hernandez has an attorney. Investigators with the Coast Guard are coordinating with New York police to determine “whether the operation constitutes an illegal charter operation,” the Coast Guard said in a statement Sunday. The dead were identified as Queens resident Sara Sanchez, 27, and her baby daughter, Antonella Garcia, according to the NYPD. It said both were taken to NYU Langone Health Brooklyn in critical condition and later pronounced dead at the hospital.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in