New York Harbor boat capsizes near Statue of Liberty, killing mother and child; operator charged
Twelve people were rescued from the water before police arrived at the scene, according to the Coast Guard. Police divers later found the 27-year-old woman and her infant daughter in the water.
A speedboat capsized in New York Harbor, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her 5-month-old daughter, according to the US Coast Guard. The incident occurred near Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty, on Saturday evening around 10:25 p.m. Twelve people were rescued before police arrived at the scene. Police divers later found the victims in the water, where they were pronounced dead at a hospital.
The boat's operator, Manuel Hernandez, aged 46, has been charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment, reported authorities. Police have not disclosed the identities of the victims pending family notification. The cause of the accident is under investigation, with the Coast Guard collaborating with police to determine if the vessel was operating as an illegal charter.
An illegal charter involves passengers being carried for hire without proper Coast Guard credentials, safety equipment, or inspection certificates. Captain Doreen McCarthy, Coast Guard Sector New York commander, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and commended the swift actions of emergency responders and a Good Samaritan vessel that aided in the rescue.
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