Woman and 5-Month-Old Baby Killed After Boat Capsizes Near New York’s Liberty Island; Operator Arrested

A 27-year-old woman and her five-month-old baby were killed after a boat overturned near Liberty Island in New York Harbor, police said. The boat operator has been arrested in connection with the incident.

According to police, emergency crews responded to reports of a capsized boat near Liberty Island at around 10:30 p.m. Saturday. NYPD divers searched the water and recovered the woman and the infant.

Both victims were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

Twelve other people aboard the boat were rescued alive. Several passengers were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.

Authorities arrested 46-year-old Manuel Hernandez following the incident. He faces 13 counts related to reckless endangerment.

The U.S. Coast Guard and other authorities are investigating the circumstances that caused the boat to overturn. Investigators are also examining whether the vessel was being operated as an unauthorized or illegal charter.

Capt. Doreen McCarthy, commander of the Coast Guard’s New York Sector, expressed condolences over the deaths and praised the NYPD, emergency agencies and a private vessel that assisted in the rescue operation.

The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities had not initially released the identities of the woman and child.