Speedboat driver charged after capsizing on Statue of Liberty tour, killing infant and mother
A speedboat pilot has been charged with misconduct following a capsizing incident in New York Harbor that resulted in the deaths of a mother and her infant. Prosecutors allege the vessel was illegally chartered, overcrowded, and lacked necessary safety equipment.
Why it matters
The case highlights the dangers of unregulated tourism and the critical importance of maritime safety compliance in high-traffic waterways.
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NEW YORK (AP) — A speedboat that capsized during a nighttime tour around the Statue of Liberty, drowning a baby girl and her mother, was illegally chartered, overcrowded and operating with a slew of safety violations, federal prosecutors said Monday.
The boat’s pilot, Manuel Hernandez, was charged with causing the deaths of 5-month old Antonella Garcia and 27-year-old Sara Sanchez through misconduct or neglect.
Hernandez wasn’t licensed by the U.S. Coast Guard, wasn’t aware of basic safety rules and told investigators he had borrowed his friend’s personal vessel for the excursion in New York Harbor, prosecutors said.
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