New York boat capsize kills mother and baby near Statue of Liberty

A boat captain has been arrested after a vessel capsized near the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, killing a 27-year-old woman and her five-month-old daughter.

Manuel Hernandez, 46, of Manhattan, was arrested early Sunday and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment, according to the New York Police Department.

Police received a 911 call at about 10:25 PM on Saturday reporting an overturned vessel near Liberty Island with 14 people aboard when it capsized.

Twelve people were pulled from the water, including 11 rescued by the captain and crew of another vessel, Sea the City II, company owner Adam Schwartz said.

NYPD divers later found the woman and baby in the water. Both were taken to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn in critical condition but were later pronounced dead.

Their identities have not been released pending notification of relatives.

Witness Madeleine Montero told FreedomNewsTV she saw “three helicopters, two active boats on the water” along with numerous emergency vehicles.

CNN affiliate WABC reported that the vessel was a 22-foot bowrider, a type of recreational powerboat.

The US Coast Guard is investigating what caused the boat to capsize, including whether it was being operated as part of an illegal charter service.