Comment A woman and a 7-year-old boy visiting Colombia were killed Tuesday when a charter boat capsized in the Hudson River, drowning everyone on board, New York City officials said. The boat capsized around 2:45 p.m. off Manhattan near Pier 84, authorities said, which is not far from the docked aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. The boat was chartered by a group of twelve family members and friends. It was unclear what caused the boat to capsize. A spokesperson for the New York Police Department identified the victims to the Washington Post as 47-year-old Lindelia Vasquez and 7-year-old Julian Vasquez, both of Colombia. They had boarded a jet boat called the Stimulus Money from Elizabeth, NJ, for a family trip on the Hudson River, according to WABC. Three people, including the captain, were seriously injured. The injured passengers, who have not been released, range in age from 24 to 51, police said. They were taken to Mount Sinai West Hospital and listed in stable condition Wednesday morning, police told The Post. All other family members on board, all from Colombia, suffered less serious injuries, officials said. Assistant Police Chief James McCarthy told a news conference that the owner of the boat “was actually on a jet ski following the boat.” As authorities recover the boat, one of the issues they will review is whether the boat was over capacity, McCarthy said. “The cause of this incident remains under investigation at this time,” police told The Post. Inspector Anthony Russo of the Coast Guard told reporters that several factors could have played a role in the capsize of the 27-foot Yamaha near the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, including vessels “approaching from different directions, waves from different directions . » “There is a lot of commercial and entertainment traffic during the day here. We also get a lot of people on jet skis, kayaks,” Russo said. “The Hudson River is always a dangerous place to operate.” He added, “It takes some skill to operate on the Hudson River, so it could have contributed.” Marine and ground units responded to the Hudson River shortly after the boat overturned, according to the New York Fire Department. Video posted on social media shows rescuers in the water trying to get passengers off the overturned boat. FDNY Firefighter Ryan Warnock admitted to reporters that a young victim can change the emotional state of first responders, “but you just have a job to do and you do it.” “This is a tragic day for New Yorkers,” New York Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at a news conference. “Indeed, it could have been worse not only because of the incredible effort of not only our own emergency first responders but also the rapid response by the New York Waterway ferries who rescued nine additional people from the water.” After arriving near the scene, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) described the fatal rollover as a “catastrophic moment.” “Our hearts go out to a group of people who were just using the water in our city,” Adams said. “This is a devastating time for them and those who are part of the families who were there and as New Yorkers, our hearts go out.” The mayor also added a note of caution to anyone who chooses to venture out on the Hudson this summer. “It’s a stark reminder to us as we move into the summer months: Water is an enjoyable part of New York, but it can be a dangerous place,” Adams said.
