Infant and Woman Killed in NY Harbor Capsizing as Captain Faces Charges [WATCH]

A Saturday night outing near one of America’s most recognizable landmarks ended in horror when a boat capsized in New York Harbor, killing a woman and an infant, as reported by Fox News.

Twelve other people were pulled from the water as emergency crews rushed toward Liberty Island.

The New York Police Department said officers received a report of an overturned vessel near Liberty Island at approximately 10:25 p.m.

A 22’ jet boat was recovered from the waters of New York Harbor after the captain, Manuel Hernandez, overcrowded the boat with 14 people, causing it to capsize and kill an infant, Antonella Garcia, and her mother, Sara Sanchez.

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By the time police arrived, rescuers had already saved twelve people from the dark harbor waters.

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NYPD divers later found a 27-year-old woman and a five-month-old girl in the water. Both victims were transported in critical condition to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn, where doctors later pronounced them dead.

Authorities have not publicly released the identities of the woman or child.

The tragedy has left investigators sorting through the chaotic final moments aboard the vessel while a grieving family faces an unimaginable loss.

The captain, identified as 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez of New York City, was arrested following the capsizing. The Coast Guard said Hernandez was charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment.

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Investigators are now working to determine exactly what caused the boat to overturn.

Authorities are also examining whether the vessel was operating as an illegal charter, a question that could bring additional scrutiny and potential consequences.

A police source told Fox News Digital that the boat was a 22-foot bowrider. Such vessels are commonly used for recreation, but investigators have not yet disclosed the number of passengers the boat was legally permitted to carry.

Captain Doreen McCarthy, commander of Coast Guard Sector New York, expressed sorrow for the victims while praising those who raced to help.

“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,” said Captain Doreen McCarthy, Coast Guard Sector New York commander.

“We are extremely grateful for the heroic, swift actions of our partner agencies and the Good Samaritan vessel who assisted in rescuing survivors from the water.

“We are working closely with CGIS and the NYPD to investigate this incident. We are committed to holding illegal operators accountable to highest extent of the law to ensure the safety of everyone on our waterways.”

The Coast Guard statement made clear that accountability will be central to the investigation.

When operators allegedly gamble with passenger safety on busy waterways, the public deserves direct answers, not bureaucratic fog or excuses.

Several surviving passengers were taken to a hospital for treatment following the rescue. Police said those passengers were believed to be in stable condition, offering at least some relief amid an otherwise devastating scene.

The NYPD Harbor Unit, Scuba Team, and Aviation Unit all responded alongside the United States Coast Guard.

Their coordinated effort followed the initial rescue work performed by nearby civilians and the Good Samaritan vessel cited by McCarthy.

The location added a grim contrast to the emergency. Liberty Island, normally surrounded by sightseeing boats and tourists viewing the Statue of Liberty and Lower Manhattan, became the center of an urgent rescue and recovery operation.

Officials have not announced whether weather, speed, passenger capacity, mechanical trouble, or operator conduct contributed to the capsizing.

Those possibilities remain part of an active investigation, and authorities have urged patience while evidence is collected.

The reckless endangerment charges against Hernandez represent allegations, and the case will proceed through the court system.

Still, the loss of two lives, including a baby only months old, ensures this investigation will receive intense attention from law enforcement.

New York Harbor is among the busiest waterways in the country, shared by commercial traffic, ferries, private vessels, and tourist operations.

That heavy use makes strict safety rules essential, especially when passengers place their lives in the hands of a captain.

For the family of the victims, legal proceedings and agency reviews cannot undo what happened Saturday night.

Investigators must now establish the facts, determine whether the voyage was lawful, and ensure anyone responsible is held fully accountable.

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