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Feds say pilot of boat in deadly NY Harbor capsize was unlicensed, ignored safety protocols
Gothamist • • nation
Key Points:
- Manuel Hernandez, the 46-year-old boat pilot, is charged federally with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer causing death after a boat capsized in New York Harbor, resulting in the deaths of a mother and her infant daughter.
- Prosecutors allege Hernandez operated the boat without the required Merchant Mariner Credential, ignored safety protocols by overcrowding the vessel beyond its 10-person capacity, and failed to provide an infant life jacket for the 5-month-old passenger.
- The incident occurred near the Statue of Liberty, where the 22-foot Yamaha AR210 capsized around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, tossing all 14 passengers overboard; 12 survived while 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and her daughter Antonella Garcia died.
- Hernandez was released on a $50,000 bond with travel restrictions and a prohibition on contacting passengers or tour company employees, as authorities emphasize that the tragedy was preventable and caused by his negligence.
- The case was taken over by federal prosecutors from local authorities, and Hernandez's attorney was unavailable for comment.
