A tragic incident occurred in New York Harbor on Saturday night, resulting in the deaths of a woman and her 5-month-old daughter after the vessel they were on overturned. The boat was carrying a total of 14 individuals when the accident took place near Liberty Island, prompting a swift response from emergency services.
According to the New York Police Department (NYPD), the call regarding the overturned vessel was received at approximately 10:55 PM. Authorities dispatched a harbor unit, a scuba team, and an aviation unit to the scene, where they found that 12 people had already been rescued from the water.
The victims have been identified as Sara Sanchez, 27, and her infant daughter, Antonella Garcia. Both were transported to NYU Langone Hospital, where they were pronounced dead upon arrival. Reports indicate that Sanchez and Garcia were the wife and daughter of Andres Garcia, an employee of Il Punto Ristorante, an Italian eatery in Midtown Manhattan. The restaurant expressed their condolences on social media, describing the outing as a planned family event that ended in tragedy.
Andres Garcia and Sara Sanchez reportedly have a 6-year-old son, although it remains unclear whether he was on board the vessel during the incident. Neighbors have mentioned that the family had recently moved to College Point, Queens, just two months prior to the accident.
The vessel was initially spotted by a Sea the City boat, which played a crucial role in rescuing 11 individuals from the water. The remaining survivors were taken to a local hospital, where they were treated for minor injuries.
In the aftermath of the incident, Captain Doreen McCarthy, commander of the Coast Guard Sector New York, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and commended the quick actions of the rescue teams and Good Samaritans who assisted in the operation. “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,” she stated.
Authorities are currently investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident, including whether the vessel was operating illegally as a charter. The U.S. Coast Guard has defined an illegal charter as any passenger-for-hire operation that does not possess the necessary credentials, safety equipment, and inspection certificates.
On Sunday, Manuel Hernandez, 46, the captain of the vessel, was arrested and faces 13 counts of reckless endangerment. The investigation is ongoing as police work to determine the exact cause of this heartbreaking event.
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