NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The operator of a speedboat that capsized in New York Harbor over the weekend, killing a 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old daughter, was charged federally Monday with causing their deaths through misconduct or neglect.
Manuel Hernandez, 46, wiped his eyes with his hand as he arrived for his initial appearance in Manhattan federal court. He was not required to enter a plea and was released on bail. After state charges were lodged against Hernandez over the weekend, prosecutors said Monday that he will be tried in federal court, not state court.
Fourteen people were aboard the 22-foot Bayline speedboat that flipped near Liberty Island around 10:25 p.m. Saturday, flinging them into the water. Twelve people were rescued, and police divers later discovered the bodies of Sara Sanchez, 27, and her baby girl, Antonella Garcia.
Sanchez’s husband, Andres Garcia, was also aboard the boat at the time of the capsizing. Friends are now rallying around Garcia amid the unimaginable tragedy.
“He was an amazing provider. He is an amazing provider,” Antonio Russo said of his colleague, who is coping with the loss while focusing on the care of his 6-year-old son Salvador.
A GoFundMe was started for the family by Il Punto Ristorante, the Italian restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen where Garcia works, and the Marco LaGuardia Hotel.
“No amount of money can replace Sara or Antonella,” the GoFundMe reads. “But together, we can give Andres some breathing room to grieve, take care of their son, Salvador, and begin facing a future that changed in an instant.”
The fundraiser has a goal of $30,000 intended for funeral costs and to support Garcia and Salvador, whose birthday is next week.
“He mentioned how lucky he felt to have a wife so precious,” Russo said. “So that’s what happened on Friday, and that happened on Saturday.”
An investigation into the capsizing led by the Southern District of New York is ongoing, as officials determine whether there was an overcrowding issue on the vessel and whether or not it was functioning as an illegal charter.
“To have that many people on the boat is definitely very dangerous, even without hitting anything, it’s very easy to capsize that boat,” retired head of the NYPD Harbor Unit, Anthony Russo, told Pix11.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
