A boat carrying 14 people capsized near Liberty Island in New York Harbor, killing a mother and her five-month-old daughter, authorities said.
The incident occurred on Saturday near the Statue of Liberty. 12 people were rescued from the water, while the woman and infant were later recovered by police divers and pronounced dead at a hospital. The vessel’s operator, identified as 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez, was arrested and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding the capsizing, including if the boat was operating as an illegal charter.
This tragedy has renewed attention on safety concerns surrounding small charter boats operating around the New York Harbor. Reports indicate the vessel was carrying significantly more people than would normally be considered for a boat of its size, although the investigation into the exact cause of the capsizing is continuing.
Officials are yet to release a final determination on what caused the boat to overturn. The investigation remains ongoing.
