Boat Pilot Faces Federal Charges in Deaths of Mother and Infant During Statue of Liberty Tour
Federal charges have been filed against a boat pilot after a nighttime tour of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor resulted in the deaths of a mother and her infant daughter. The pilot, Manuel Hernandez, was charged with…
Indianapolis, IN, August 11, 2026 —
Federal charges have been filed against Manuel Hernandez, the pilot of a chartered speedboat, in connection with the deaths of a mother and her infant daughter during a nighttime tour of the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor. Hernandez faces charges of misconduct or neglect leading to death.
According to prosecutors, the incident occurred during a chartered tour when the speedboat capsized and sank. The investigation revealed that the vessel was allegedly overcrowded and was being operated without the necessary proper licensing. Furthermore, safety equipment, including life preservers specifically for infants, was reportedly absent from the boat.
The exact timeline and specific details of the capsizing were not provided. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York is handling the prosecution. The names of the mother and infant have not been publicly released.
The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy is ongoing. The federal charges indicate potential violations of maritime safety regulations.
Story summarized from the original created by AP via Scripps News Group on www.wrtv.com, see more information here.
