Woman and infant die as boat capsizes near Statue of Liberty; captain charged

A tragic incident in New York Harbor near the Statue of Liberty on Saturday, August 8, 2026, resulted in the deaths of a 27-year-old woman, Sara Sanchez, and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, after their 22-foot speedboat capsized. Police and Coast Guard units responded to the emergency call around 10:25 PM, finding that 12 other individuals on board had already been rescued by a passing vessel and first responders, sustaining minor injuries. The mother and infant were later recovered by divers and pronounced dead at NYU Langone hospital.

The boat's captain, Manuel Hernandez, 46, has been arrested and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment in connection with the capsizing. Federal authorities, including the U.S. Coast Guard and the New York Police Department, are currently investigating the cause of the accident. Their inquiry includes determining whether the vessel was operating legally or as an uncredentialed "illegal charter," which lacks proper safety certifications and equipment.