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An Alcatraz ferry boat slammed into a San Francisco pier on Sunday night
Passengers described the crash as terrifying, with some sharing they feared the boat might sink during the incident
Witnesses claim the crew appeared panicked and did not provide clear communication about what was happening
The company confirmed no injuries were reported and an investigation into the cause will be conducted
Passengers riding a San Francisco ferry were left shaken after the vessel slammed into a dock, shattering windows on board.
On Sunday evening, an Alcatraz City Cruises boat “was involved in a docking incident upon returning to Pier 31,” according to a statement shared with PEOPLE from a company spokesperson. In partnership with the National Park Service, Alcatraz City Cruises is the only authorized ferry provider transporting travelers to the famed prison island.
Olivia RiosAcuña, one of the passengers on board during the incident, tells ABC 7 she booked her family’s trip on the vessel because of her son’s love of boats. “He’s like, ‘Mom I thought this was going to be the best day, but this is just the worst day ever,’” she says of his reaction.
RiosAcuña says the family spent much of the day on the deck before heading downstairs as the ferry prepared to dock. “Next thing I know, I just heard a really loud noise and the whole boat shook,” she recalls. “I was terrified. I was like, what on earth is going on? And then I was like, okay, who on earth is driving this boat?”
RiosAcuña says the vessel struck the pier multiple times, causing the windows to shatter on board. She claims one woman even fell down the stairs during the incident.
Alcatraz Island
Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty
Another passenger, Genesis Alcocer, tells the outlet she initially feared the worst. “For me, I was like, oh my god, we’re gonna sink. I’m not the best swimmer,” she says. She claims ferry crew members did not immediately communicate what was happening. “The people that worked there were not making a big deal about it, but you could tell in their face that they were panicking,” she says.
“Is this your first day?” another passenger, Daniel Aburto, asked of the crew’s experience. “That was my first thought. Like, this is your first day. There’s no way, there’s no way.”
The passengers claim they were kept on board for about 20 minutes before exiting the ferry. RiosAcuña claims crew members had a surprising message upon disembarkation. “This guy’s like, ‘Have a great day. You guys sure had an exciting entry,’ or something like that,” she says. “I was like, exciting? More like traumatic. My kid’s still crying.”
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The company tells PEOPLE no injuries were reported and an investigation into the cause of the incident will be conducted.
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