Captain charged after boat capsizes near Statue of Liberty, killing mother and baby

Manuel Hernandez, 46, of Manville, New Jersey, appeared in court Monday on federal charges after the New York Harbor capsize that killed Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia. The boat overturned near Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty on Saturday night.

The NYPD was called to an overturned vessel near Liberty Island at 22:55, and a harbor unit, scuba team and aviation team were sent to the scene. By the time responders arrived, 12 people had already been rescued from the water. The vessel was a 22-foot speedboat and was carrying 14 people when it capsized.

The victims were identified as Sara Sanchez, 27, and Antonella Garcia, whose family was from Queens and College Point. The baby’s father, Andres Garcia, was also on board, and the passengers were celebrating a birthday when the boat flipped.

Hernandez faced two counts of misconduct or neglect of ship officers resulting in death. He was released on $50,000 bond after being transferred into federal custody following treatment at Maimonides Medical Center. The U.S. Coast Guard is investigating whether the boat was part of an “illegal charter operation,” which would mean it was operating outside the rules that govern commercial trips around Liberty Island and the Statue of Liberty.