A Manhattan man has been charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment related to a Saturday night boat capsizing in New York Harbor which killed a 5-month-old girl and her 27-year-old mother.
Police and the Coast Guard say the incident with the 22-foot bowrider occurred at 10:25 p.m. near the Statue of Liberty. NYPD, FDNY and Coast Guard vessels responded, along with a police helicopter.
The baby and the woman, who the Coast Guard identified as mother and daughter, were recovered by NYPD divers. They were taken to NYU Langone Hospital in Brooklyn in critical condition, where they were later pronounced dead. A dozen other people were rescued from the water and are in stable condition, according to the Coast Guard.
Police have not yet released the victim’s identities.
Manuel Hernandez, a 46-year-old Midtown resident, was arrested and charged just before 2:30 a.m. Sunday morning. Police say he was the captain of the boat, and that the incident did not involve any other boats. It is unclear how Hernandez was related to the victims.
The investigation remains ongoing. The Coast Guard is specifically looking into whether or not Hernandez was operating an illegal charter.
This is a developing story and may be updated.