Boat Carrying 14 Overturns Near Statue of Liberty Killing Mother and 5-Month-Old Baby – Captain Arrested as Authorities Investigate Possible Illegal Charter

A tragic accident near Liberty Island in New York on Saturday night resulted in the deaths of a 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old daughter when a speed boat with 14 passengers turned over and capsized.

An individual who survived the incident recounted to ABC how NYPD rescue teams swiftly arrived by boat and transported survivors to safety.

“People were discussing a mother and child who needed rescuing from the water, and they were eventually found. By then, I was already observing the boats moving rapidly back and forth, and that was when the rescue took place for the mother and the child,” the survivor shared.

Via ABC 7:

According to the New York Post, the deceased have been identified as Sara Sanchez, 27, and her infant daughter, Antonella Garcia, who were both declared dead at the hospital after being retrieved from the water. The child’s father was also present on the boat.

The boat’s captain, Manuel Hernandez, 46, faces charges of at least 13 counts of reckless endangerment.

Further details from the New York Post:

Manuel Hernandez, 46 — whose last known address was a luxurious condo by Central Park South — was charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment after the 2019 white 21-foot Yamaha motorboat he was operating capsized shortly before 10:30 p.m., according to police and law enforcement sources.

The Coast Guard, in a press release, indicated that they are investigating whether the vessel was operating as an illegal charter, noting that such operations “often lack necessary safety equipment and may not meet the same safety standards as legal charters.”

The boat, which offers front seating, had 14 occupants despite having a seating capacity of no more than 10, as per online specifications and NYPD sources.

As the investigation proceeds, Hernandez could be subjected to additional charges.