'Worst Experience of My Life': 30 Hurt, Some Seriously, When Ferry Makes Hard Landing at Midtown Terminal: FDNY
A fire official said the ferry was going faster than normal as it approached the dock
By Checkey Beckford
At least 30 people were injured, some seriously, when a New York Water Taxi hit a dock on the West Side of Manhattan Friday
Passengers recalled the ferry moving to fast before it suddenly slammed into the dock
One passenger called it, "the worst experience of my life"
A New York Water Taxi made a hard landing against the dock at a ferry terminal on Manhattan's West Side Friday evening, injuring at least 30 people, fire officials say.
The FDNY says the vessel struck Pier 79, near Lincoln Tunnel on the West Side, on Friday just after 4 p.m.
FDNY Manhattan Borough Commander Roger Sakowich said the man at the helm of the ferry wasn't able to stop as the boat moved too quickly to the dock.
"It was going a little faster than normal," Sakowich said. "He was reversing, didn't reverse as quick as he thought, and he hit abruptly. The people who were getting ready to disembark, a lot of them were thrown forward."
At Least 30 Hurt When Ferry Makes Hard Landing in NYC
Dozens of people were hurt when a ferry carrying 125 people made a hard landing while docking at a terminal in Manhattan. Checkey Beckford reports.(Published Friday, July 28, 2017)
Witnesses also said it felt like the ferry was going to fast before it suddenly slammed into the dock. Some said they saw passengers violently lurched forward upon impact.
Thirty people had injuries ranging from minor to serious, but none are life-threatening, according to fire officials. Most injuries were to passengers' heads and backs; at least one child had a head injury.
Fire officials initially said some passengers were being evaluated for minor injuries, mostly bumps and bruises.
Ferry Has Hard Landing on West Side
Eight minor injuries were caused by the hard landing.(Published Friday, July 28, 2017)
EMS were evaluating people sitting on benches near a ferry dock, and several people were seen on stretchers.
Lesbia Fuentes was on the ferry with her young daughter when it hit the dock.
"It was horrible, it was the worst experience of my life," Fuentes said, adding that her daughter had a minor injury.
The Maritime Association of the Port of New York and New Jersey is investigating the cause of the crash.
New York Water Taxi operates a fleet of 12 vessels of four classes with most of them being named for what the company refers to as "the unsung heroes of the New York Harbor". The 67.1-foot (20.5 m) Ed Rogowsky is the one that crashed.
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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) – Thirty people were injured when a New York water taxi made a hard landing into a ramp in the Hudson River.
The vessel was coming from New Jersey when it struck an access ramp at West 39th Street and 12th Avenue shortly after 4 p.m.
“This afternoon, as it was approaching the pier, it was going a little faster than normal. It was reversing, didn’t reverse as quickly as he thought, and hit the pier abruptly,” FDNY Manhattan Borough Commander Roger Sakowich told CBS2’s Jessica Moore. “People were getting ready to disembark, and a lot of them were thrown forward.”
The FDNY said the injuries range from minor to serious, though none are life threatening.
(Credit: Sharon Barnes-Waters/1010 WINS)
(Credit: Sharon Barnes-Waters/1010 WINS)
Other passengers should expect delays.
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WEST SIDE, Manhattan (WABC) -- A New York Water Taxi hit the dock on the West Side of Manhattan on Friday afternoon.
It happened just after 4 p.m. at Pier 79 at 40th Street and the West Side Highway in Manhattan.
EMS reports that 30 people were injured. Their injuries range from minor to serious, but none are life threatening.