Shocking: Killed Woman and Infant, boat capsized near statue of Liberty

A 5-month-old girl and a 27-year-old mother from Queens died after a boat overturned off Liberty Island late Saturday night, according to officials. Twelve other people were rescued from the water and the boat’s operator was arrested.

The boat overturned at about 10:20 p.m., prompting a large emergency response involving FDNY and NYPD Harbor, scuba and aviation units. Rescue crews pulled a total of 14 people from the water.

The infant and woman, identified as 5-month-old Antonella Garcia and 27-year-old Sarah Sanchez, were transported to NYU Langone Brooklyn in critical condition, where they were later pronounced dead. The U.S. Coast Guard said the two passengers that were killed were mother and child, however police said it was not immediately clear whether the two were related. The 12 other passengers rescued from the water were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

Manuel Hernandez, 46, of Manhattan, was arrested and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. The Coast Guard said investigators are also looking into whether the trip may have been operating as an illegal charter. The agency, working alongside the Coast Guard Investigative Service and NYPD, is conducting an active investigation into what caused the fatal capsizing.

One witness described seeing a frantic rescue effort as emergency boats raced back and forth to the scene.

“I saw a lot of ambulances, firefighters, and then I saw that there were boats here,” said Madeline Hunter, a witness. “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.”

Police identified the vessel as a 22-foot bowrider power boat, a type that typically holds 10 to 12 people.

Eyewitness News was told that Sanchez lived in College Point, Queens. Lucy Yang was there Sunday afternoon speaking with shocked neighbors.

“I’m in shock,” said neighbor Diego Naranjo. “For the family, sending condolences to the family. May they rest in peace in heaven.”