A 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old daughter died late Saturday night when an overloaded 22-foot motorboat capsized in New York Harbor near Liberty Island. The Coast Guard and local police arrested 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez, who faces 13 reckless endangerment charges following the tragedy.
Overloaded Vessel Flips Near the Statue of Liberty
The deadly incident unfolded just before 10:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 8, 2026, when a bowrider motorboat flipped over in the waters off Liberty Island, according to law enforcement sources cited by the New York Post. The vessel, a bowrider with front seating, was overloaded with 14 people on board, according to NYPD sources. Online sites say its capacity is typically 10 to 12.
Emergency responders arrived to find a chaotic scene in the dark harbor. Multiple agencies, including the New York City Police Department and the FDNY, scrambled rescue vessels and deployed air-sea units to search the water. NYPD helicopters could be seen hovering overhead while FDNY vessels patrolled the waters to save survivors. Video of Saturday night’s incident shows blue and red emergency craft lights in the dark harbor searching the waters after the vessel capsized.
Victims Identified and Charges Filed Against Operator
The tragedy claimed the lives of 27-year-old Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, both passengers from College Point, Queens. Sanchez’s boyfriend, who was the baby’s father, also was on board the boat at the time of the tragedy, according to sources.
First responders transported Sanchez and her daughter in critical condition to NYU Langone Health Brooklyn, where both were later pronounced dead at the hospital. Eleven other people were rescued and taken to area hospitals with minor injuries, according to the FDNY. The 11 passengers were removed from the water and transported to Brooklyn’s Lutheran Hospital in stable condition with minor injuries. Some of the survivors could be seen still clutching their life jackets in the hospital lobby.
Manuel Hernandez was taken into custody at the scene. Hernandez was slapped with 13 charges of reckless endangerment after the 22-foot motorboat he was operating flipped over, with more raps pending, law-enforcement sources said Sunday.
Federal and Local Investigators Probe Charter Legality
As the wreckage of the upturned boat was lifted out of the water and towed into police custody on Sunday morning, federal and local authorities opened a joint investigation. Investigators with the U.S. Coast Guard are coordinating with New York police to determine whether the operation constitutes an illegal charter operation.
The Coast Guard confirmed to NBC News on Sunday morning that the vessel was towed to shore and remains in police custody.
Liberty Island, on the New Jersey side of New York Harbor, is home to the Statue of Liberty, the iconic sculpture gifted to the United States by France as a symbol of the alliance between the two nations. The statue has lived on the island since its dedication in 1886 by President Grover Cleveland. The island is a popular tourist destination, drawing visitors who climb to Lady Liberty’s crown for sweeping harbor views. Others opt for boat tours to take in the statue from the water.
