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Twelve people were rescued from the water before police arrived,
and police divers later located the 27-year-old woman and
5-month-old girl in the water. Both were taken to a hospital
where they were pronounced dead. According to the Coast Guard,
the others were in stable condition.
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of life last night,
and our thoughts are with the victims’ family and loved ones
during this incredibly difficult time,” said Capt. Doreen
McCarthy, the Coast Guard Sector New York commander. “We are
extremely grateful for the heroic, swift actions of our partner
agencies and Good Samaritan vessel who assisted in rescuing
survivors from the water.”
Manuel Hernandez, 46, of New York, has been charged with 13
counts of reckless endangerment, police said. No phone number
for him could be found Sunday, and the case has not yet been
entered into online court records.
The victims' identities have not been released pending
notification of family, police said Sunday.
Adam Schwartz said his sightseeing company's hot tub boat, Sea
the City II, was out on a cruise when the accident occurred and
took the 12 survivors onboard.
“Our captain and both crew members immediately assisted, called
in to the Coast Guard and ... then coordinated with the Coast
Guard and NYPD Harbor units to bring them to land in Brooklyn,”
Schwartz told The Associated Press on Sunday.
McCarthy said Coast Guard investigators are working with police
to investigate and are committed to holding lawbreakers
accountable. According to the Coast Guard, an illegal charter is
any passenger-for-hire vessel operation that lacks Coast Guard
credentials, safety equipment and inspection certificates.
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