A mother and her 5-month-old daughter were killed after a boat capsized near Liberty Island late Saturday night, sending 14 people into the water, police said.
The victims were identified as 27-year-old Sarah Sanchez and her daughter, Antonella Garcia.
The boat overturned around 10:30 p.m. Saturday, according to police.
Twelve other passengers fell into the water and were rescued. They are expected to recover.
“I saw three helicopters, two active boats on the water,” said Madeleine Montero, who witnessed the first responders’ rescue efforts.
“I saw a lot of ambulances, firefighters, and then I saw that there were boats here, and then people were just speaking that there was a mother and a child that needed to be rescued from the water and that they were found,” Montero said.
Police said the vessel’s captain, Manuel Hernandez, was arrested and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment.
Police and the U.S. Coast Guard are conducting a joint investigation into whether the vessel was properly licensed and legally operating in the waters near Liberty Island.
The investigation remains ongoing.