An illegal NYC boat tour allegedly ignored safety warnings before a capsizing killed a mother and her 5-month-old daughter in New York Harbor.
An illegal NYC boat tour in New York Harbor turned deadly after federal prosecutors say the operator ignored safety warnings, overloaded the vessel and sent a mother and her 5-month-old daughter into the water Saturday night. Manuel Hernandez, 46, of Manville, New Jersey, was charged Monday with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death after the Yamaha AR210 he was piloting capsized near the Statue of Liberty.
Prosecutors say Hernandez was not licensed to carry paying passengers and had 14 people aboard a boat built for 10. They also allege he knowingly brought an infant aboard without an appropriate life vest. Hernandez appeared Monday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Valerie Figueredo, and each charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. Coast Guard Investigative Service Assistant Director Josh Packer said illegal charter operations “gamble with human life,” adding that the conduct in this case led to “an unthinkable tragedy.”
According to the federal complaint, the warning signs came before the tour even left the dock. Hernandez allegedly asked the baby’s parents whether they had an infant-sized flotation device. When they said no, he told them the boat did not have one either. He then allegedly instructed one parent to wear a life vest and hold the baby during the trip, and the child’s mother followed that direction.
The complaint says the excursion had already been underway for about three hours and 20 minutes when Hernandez made a U-turn while heading toward the Statue of Liberty. Prosecutors allege the maneuver brought the boat into a swell that may have been caused by the wake of a larger passing vessel. Hernandez then tried to speed through the swell, but the bow was swamped and the boat “immediately capsized,” according to the allegations. All 14 people on board were thrown into the harbor. Eleven passengers and Hernandez survived. The mother and baby were recovered unresponsive and later pronounced dead at a Brooklyn hospital.
“An illegal NYC boat tour allegedly ignored safety warnings before a capsizing killed a mother and her 5-month-old daughter in New York Harbor.”
Federal authorities also say this was not the first time Hernandez allegedly ran paying passengers on New York Harbor without the required credentials. After his arrest, he allegedly told investigators he had previously operated at least two other tours for the same company using his own boat. He allegedly said he did not have the Merchant Mariner Credential or Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection required for those trips and was paid about $1,000 each time.
The boat used in the fatal outing belonged to a friend and was smaller than Hernandez’s own vessel, which needed mechanical repairs, according to the complaint. Hernandez allegedly told investigators he did not know the borrowed boat’s maximum capacity and had expected 12 passengers before agreeing to take 13. Federal prosecutors say the trip was still overloaded beyond the vessel’s limit, with one more person than Hernandez says he expected to carry.
The victims were identified in a GoFundMe organized by friends and colleagues as Sara Sanchez, 27, and her daughter Antonella Garcia. Sanchez’s partner and Antonella’s father, Andres Garcia, was also on board and survived. The fundraiser says he is now grieving their deaths while caring for the couple’s 6-year-old son, Salvador, and is raising money for funeral expenses and other costs.
New York officials said the case reflected a basic failure to protect passengers who trusted the operator with their safety. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said Hernandez showed “a complete disregard for the safety of his passengers,” and said the tragedy could have been prevented. The case now turns on federal charges that could bring serious prison time, while the broader issue remains the same for families and tourists alike: when unlicensed operators cut corners on the water, ordinary people pay the price.
Frequently asked questions
Who was charged in the New York Harbor capsizing case?
Manuel Hernandez, 46, of Manville, New Jersey, was charged Monday with two counts of misconduct and neglect of a ship officer resulting in death.
What do prosecutors say went wrong on the boat tour?
They say Hernandez ignored safety warnings, carried 14 people on a boat with a 10-person maximum, and took an infant aboard without an appropriate life vest.
Who died in the capsizing?
Authorities say a 27-year-old mother, Sara Sanchez, and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, died after being recovered unresponsive and taken to a Brooklyn hospital.
What did officials say about the alleged operation?
Coast Guard Investigative Service Assistant Director Josh Packer said illegal charter operations gamble with human life, and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the tragedy could have been prevented.
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