A 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old daughter died after a boat capsized near Liberty Island in New York Harbor Saturday night, authorities said. The vessel’s captain was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment following the deadly incident.
The victims were identified by police as Sara Sanchez, a Queens resident, and her infant daughter, Antonella Garcia. Both were taken to NYU Langone Health Brooklyn in critical condition after the boat overturned, but they were later pronounced dead at the hospital.
The tragedy unfolded near the Statue of Liberty, where emergency crews launched a large-scale rescue operation after the vessel capsized.
Captain Arrested After Deadly Incident
The U.S. Coast Guard said the boat’s captain was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment.
Police identified the captain as 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez. Court records were not immediately available, and it was not immediately clear whether Hernandez had retained an attorney.
The Coast Guard said investigators are working with the New York Police Department to determine whether the vessel was operating as an illegal charter operation.
That investigation is expected to examine the circumstances surrounding the trip, the operation of the vessel and what led to the boat overturning.
Eleven Others Rescued
The incident also left 11 other people requiring medical attention.
According to the New York City Fire Department, the 11 survivors were rescued from the water and transported to area hospitals with minor injuries.
Emergency responders rushed to the scene after the vessel overturned, working to locate everyone who had been aboard and bring them to safety.
The rescue operation unfolded in the waters surrounding Liberty Island, an area heavily traveled by sightseeing and recreational vessels.
Mother and Baby Die After Being Hospitalized
Sanchez and her daughter were initially transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Despite efforts to save them, both mother and child later died from injuries sustained in the incident.
Their deaths have turned what began as a nighttime boat trip into a devastating tragedy for their family and those who knew them.
The loss of a mother and her infant daughter has also added to the shock surrounding the accident as investigators work to establish exactly how and why the vessel capsized.
Investigation Underway
The Coast Guard and New York police are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the capsizing.
A key part of the investigation will be determining whether the boat was legally operating and whether any violations contributed to the tragedy. Investigators are also expected to examine the vessel, conditions at the time of the incident and the actions of the captain.
For now, the arrest of Hernandez represents the first significant development in the investigation.
Authorities have not indicated that additional charges have been filed, and the investigation remains ongoing.
The deaths of Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, have left a grieving family facing an unimaginable loss, while investigators continue working to determine what caused the deadly boat disaster near one of New York City’s most recognizable landmarks.
