The captain was charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment after the vessel overturned on Saturday, Aug. 8, killing two people
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NEED TO KNOW
- A 27-year-old woman and 5-month-old baby died after the boat capsized near Liberty Island on Aug. 8
- The boat’s captain, Manuel Hernandez, has since been charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment
- Authorities are investigating the cause of the capsizing, as the identities of the deceased remain undisclosed
A woman and infant died after a boat carrying more than a dozen people capsized near the Statue of Liberty in New York. The captain of the vessel has now been charged in connection with the fatal incident.
The vessel was carrying at least 14 people when it overturned near Liberty Island and New York Harbor just before 10:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, Aug. 8, according to the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and New York Police Department (NYPD).
The boat’s captain, Manuel Hernandez, was arrested and subsequently charged in connection with the incident in northwestern Brooklyn during the early hours of Sunday, Aug. 9, the NYPD and the U.S. Coast Guard confirmed to PEOPLE.
According to authorities, Hernandez, 46, was charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. It is unclear whether he has obtained legal representation to comment on his behalf.
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The U.S. Coast Guard told PEOPLE investigators planned to interview the boat’s captain amid their ongoing investigation into the incident.
In an Aug. 9 statement, they said, “Following the initial rescue, the operator of the vessel was arrested by the NYPD for reckless endangerment.”
“Coast Guard Investigators are also determining whether the operation constitutes an illegal charter operation and are coordinating efforts in conjunction with NYPD. The Coast Guard, in coordination with the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) and the NYPD, is conducting an active marine casualty investigation into the circumstances and cause of a fatal vessel capsizing,” the organization added.
After the boat — a 22-foot bowrider powerboat, per CNN affiliate WABC — overturned, NYPD divers located a 27-year-old woman and 5-month-old baby girl, who were transported to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn in critical condition, police said. They were later pronounced deceased.
The woman and child have not yet been publicly identified by authorities. Investigators have not yet confirmed whether they are related.
“The identities of the deceased are being withheld pending proper family notification,” the NYPD said in a statement.
Credit: Getty
An additional dozen people were rescued from the water before police arrived on the scene, the NYPD said.
They suffered “minor injuries” and were transported to area hospitals, according to the FDNY.
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The NYPD’s Harbor Unit, SCUBA Team and Aviation were among the first responders on the scene, police said. It is currently unclear what caused the capsizing.
The NYPD investigation remains ongoing. The U.S. Coast Guard is also investigating.
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