Story perspectives

Man Charged After NY Boat Capsizes, 2 Dead, 12 Saved

8/10/2026

Summary

Manuel Hernandez Charged

Manuel Hernandez, 46, of New York was charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment after his 22-foot Bayliner capsized in New York Harbor.
Divers recovered a 27-year-old woman and her five-month-old daughter, who died, while twelve other passengers were rescued in stable condition.
Coast Guard Sector New York Commander Captain Doreen McCarthy said the service is working with police to investigate the crash and possible illegal charter.

Summary

NYFD Rescue

NYFD and NYPD units, including Harbor, Scuba and Aviation teams, arrived off Liberty Island at 10:30 p.m. Saturday.
Rescue divers recovered a 46-year-old woman and her 5-month-old daughter, who were later pronounced dead at Langone Hospital Brooklyn.
The twelve other passengers were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, some clutching life jackets.
Investigators said the capsizing cause remains unclear and the probe continues.

Summary

Coast Guard Investigates

The 2019 21-foot Yamaha AR210 runabout carried 14 passengers, exceeding its 10-person limit.
Officials could not confirm if any passengers wore required life jackets.
The Coast Guard is checking if the vessel meets the illegal charter definition, which lacks required credentials, safety gear, and inspection.
The investigation, led by the Coast Guard, its Investigative Service, and the NYPD, took place in clear weather with 80 °F temperature and 10 mph westerly winds.

History

Historical Context

Safety rules for small boats stem from the Titanic disaster, which led to the first SOLAS treaty in 1914 and its 1974 revision that entered force on 25 May 1980, covering 167 signatory states and about 99 % of global merchant tonnage. The U.S. Coast Guard’s 1972 Ports and Waterways Safety Act then gave it authority to inspect passenger vessels, a framework applied to today’s overloaded 22-foot Bayliner.

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Manuel Hernandez Charged

Manuel Hernandez, 46, of New York was charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment after his 22-foot Bayliner capsized in New York Harbor.
Divers recovered a 27-year-old woman and her five-month-old daughter, who died, while twelve other passengers were rescued in stable condition.
Coast Guard Sector New York Commander Captain Doreen McCarthy said the service is working with police to investigate the crash and possible illegal charter.

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