A woman and her five-month-old daughter died after a boat carrying 14 people capsized in New York Harbor, while the vessel’s captain was arrested on reckless endangerment charges, US media reported on Sunday.
The vessel overturned near Liberty Island, home to the Statue of Liberty, late Saturday, CBS News reported, citing the New York Police Department.
Twelve people were rescued from the water, while a 27-year-old woman and her 5-month-old daughter were taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The report identified the victims as Sara Sanchez and her daughter Antonella Garcia.
The remaining survivors sustained minor injuries, according to police.
A nearby vessel operated by Sea the City helped rescue 11 people before emergency crews arrived.
Police arrested Manuel Hernandez, 46, on Sunday on 13 counts of reckless endangerment, according to the report.
The US Coast Guard said authorities were investigating whether the vessel had been operating illegally as a passenger charter.
An illegal charter refers to a passenger-for-hire operation that lacks required Coast Guard credentials, safety equipment or inspection certificates.
Authorities are also investigating the cause of the capsizing.
