Capsized Hudson River Boat Was Overloaded With People: Report

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — The boat that capsized in the Hudson River on Tuesday, killing two people, was overloaded with passengers when it overturned, according to a new report.

The 24-foot-long Yamaha jet boat had at least 13 passengers on board but was only big enough for 12 people, the New York Post reported Thursday.

Lindelia Vasquez, 50, had chartered the boat to bring her family members on a tour of New York Harbor, the Post reported. Vasquez ultimately died when the boat capsized around 2:46 p.m. near Pier 86 in Midtown, along with seven-year-old relative Julian Vasquez.

An NYPD spokesperson told Patch on Wednesday that police were looking into whether the boat had been over capacity, though authorities have not made any official announcement about what caused it to overturn.

Both victims were Colombian nationals, police have said.

The newly reported figure of 13 people on board is also greater than the initial total of 12 people that authorities had stated in a news conference hours after the accident.

"This is a tragic day for New Yorkers," Police Commissioner Keechant Sewell said at the scene.

The death toll could have been higher, authorities said, were it not for the efforts of NY Waterway, a ferry company that sent two vessels to the scene and rescued nearly all of the remaining passengers from the water.

Authorities had also suspected that the wake from a passing ferry could have been a factor in causing the boat to flip over — but NY Waterway strongly denied that possibility, saying its nearest vessel was four minutes away when the boat capsized, the Post reported.

Related coverage:

• 2 Victims Of Hudson River Boat Capsizing Are Identified By Police
• 7-Year-Old Boy, Woman Die When Boat Flips In Hudson River: Officials