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Illegal Immigrant Pilot Charged in Fatal Boat Crash
20 Aug
Summary
- Pilot arrested for illegal entry, facing charges in fatal boat crash.
- Infant and mother drowned when overloaded boat capsized.
- Pilot lacked Coast Guard license and basic safety knowledge.
Manuel Ernesto Hernandez-Umana, the pilot of a speedboat that capsized during a Statue of Liberty tour, has been arrested by U.S. immigration authorities. He is accused of entering the U.S. illegally in 2007 and faces criminal charges for causing the deaths of 5-month-old Antonella Garcia and 27-year-old Sara Sanchez.
Authorities stated Hernandez-Umana, a citizen of El Salvador, lacked a U.S. Coast Guard license and basic safety knowledge. The vessel, an illegally chartered and overcrowded 21-foot Yamaha AR210 with 14 people aboard, swamped and sank during a U-turn in choppy waters. The infant was not wearing a life preserver as none were available for small children.
Hernandez-Umana was living in Manville, New Jersey, and is currently held at an ICE detention facility in Elizabeth, New Jersey. He had been working for Zeus Luxury Rental Inc. on a contract basis. His criminal case is pending, with a return court date set for September 9th.
