Boat Captain Charged After Fatal New York Harbor Capsizing

Manuel Hernandez, 46, was arrested at 2:30 a.m. on August 9, 2026, and charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment — one per passenger besides himself — after his boat capsized near Liberty Island the prior evening. Reckless endangerment means putting others at serious risk of death through careless conduct. A 27-year-old woman and a five-month-old girl died. Twelve were rescued. The NYPD confirmed the arrest.