The operator of a boat that capsized in New York Harbour, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her infant daughter, is facing criminal charges as authorities investigate whether the vessel was an illegal charter, the US Coast Guard reported on Sunday. The 22-foot Bayliner speedboat overturned at approximately 10:25pm on Saturday near Liberty Island, the site of the Statue of Liberty.
Twelve individuals were rescued from the water by a Good Samaritan vessel and partner agencies before police arrived. Police divers subsequently located the 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old daughter in the water; both were transported to a hospital where they were pronounced dead. According to the Coast Guard, the remaining survivors are in stable condition. The identities of the victims have not been released pending family notification.
Manuel Hernandez, 46, of New York, has been charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. No contact information for Hernandez was available on Sunday, and the case has not yet appeared in online court records. Coast Guard investigators are working alongside police to determine the circumstances of the incident and have expressed a commitment to holding lawbreakers accountable.
Captain Doreen McCarthy, the Coast Guard Sector New York Commander, stated, “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life last night, and our thoughts are with the victims’ family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.” She added, “We are extremely grateful for the heroic, swift actions of our partner agencies and Good Samaritan vessel who assisted in rescuing survivors from the water.” The Coast Guard defines an illegal charter as any passenger-for-hire operation lacking necessary credentials, safety equipment, and inspection certificates.