NEW YORK — The driver of a speedboat that capsized in New York Harbor over the weekend, killing a 27-year-old woman and her infant daughter, was charged 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.
Sara Sanchez and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia, died after the 22-foot Yamaha speedboat overturned late Saturday near the Statue of Liberty. Twelve others were rescued and are in stable condition, authorities said.
The vessel was pulled from the water and taken to the New York Police Department’s harbor unit facility on Randall’s Island.
After state charges were lodged against Hernandez over the weekend, prosecutors said Monday that he will be tried in federal court, not state court.
Capt. Doreen McCarthy, the Coast Guard Sector New York commander, credited the rescue of survivors to “heroic, swift actions” by those who responded from various agencies, along with a good Samaritan vessel.
Meanwhile, a GoFundMe campaign that began Sunday to help Andres Garcia pay for the funeral and other expenses for his partner, Sanchez, and their daughter had topped $25,000 by Tuesday afternoon.
Antonio Russo, general manager at Il Punto Ristorante, said Garcia is an “amazing guy” who has been working long hours each week as a waiter, driver and food-runner, to provide for his family here and in Colombia.
Diego Naranjo, a neighbor of Sanchez in Queens, said he first met her last spring when her son threw a ball into their backyard. After recovering the ball, Naranjo invited her son to play on a trampoline with his children.
“They were really nice people. You can see when a person is noble,” Naranjo said.
He said he last saw Sanchez last Tuesday as she brought groceries into her home. He said he was shocked by the deaths.
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This story was updated to correct that the boat was a Yamaha, not a Bayliner.
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Turbay reported from Little Rock, Arkansas. Associated Press reporter Larry Neumeister in New York contributed to this report.
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