Mother and infant named in Liberty Island boat capsizing

A boat capsized near Liberty Island in New York Harbor Saturday night, killing a mother named Sara Sanchez, 27, and her 5-month-old daughter Antonella Garcia, with 12 of 14 people rescued. Authorities say the 22-foot Bayliner was overloaded and are investigating whether it operated as an illegal charter; the captain, Manuel Hernandez, 46, has been charged with 13 counts of reckless endangerment. Coast Guard and NYPD divers pulled two victims from the water and transported others to hospitals, where Sanchez and Garcia were pronounced dead. Sanchez’s husband, Andres Garcia, was also on board and is receiving support from a GoFundMe fundraiser created by a local restaurant and community sources. The family’s involvement and GoFundMe campaign add context to the incident, which has heightened concerns about safety and charter regulations in recreational boating on New York Harbor. This remains a developing story with ongoing investigations and updates from multiple outlets.