NEW YORK — A 45-year-old man remains in police custody after his small boat capsized near the Statue of Liberty on Saturday, leaving a woman and an infant dead. The vessel, which authorities confirmed was overloaded, tipped into the freezing Hudson River waters shortly before 3 p.m.
The boat was carrying 13 people when it overturned. While first responders pulled 11 passengers from the water, the woman and the baby could not be saved. Both were rushed to local hospitals in critical condition but were pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigators say the vessel was a recreational boat not equipped for such a large group. Police officials indicated that the weight distribution likely caused the craft to list and eventually flip in the choppy harbor waters.
The captain, whose identity has not been released pending formal arraignment, faces potential charges of reckless endangerment and operating a vessel in an unsafe manner. Authorities are also looking into whether he lacked the proper commercial licensing required to transport passengers for hire.
“The harbor is unforgiving,” said one marine unit officer at the scene. “When you pack a small craft beyond its capacity, you aren’t just breaking a rule—you’re inviting a catastrophe.”
Witnesses near Liberty State Park described a chaotic scene as the boat began to take on water. Private vessels in the area rushed to assist before the NYPD and Coast Guard arrived, but the rapid currents and the number of people in the water hampered rescue efforts.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has joined the investigation to determine if mechanical failure played a role, though early evidence points to human error and overcrowding.
As of Sunday morning, the surviving passengers—several of whom suffered from hypothermia—are receiving counseling. The captain is expected to face a judge in Manhattan Criminal Court within 24 hours.
