A late-night boat trip in New York Harbor ended in tragedy Saturday night after an overloaded vessel capsized near Liberty Island, killing a 27-year-old mother and her 5-month-old daughter and leaving the boat’s captain facing a string of criminal charges.

Manuel Hernandez, 46, was charged Sunday with 13 counts of reckless endangerment following the deadly incident, according to police and law-enforcement sources. Authorities said the 21-foot Yamaha motorboat he was operating overturned shortly before 10:30 p.m. in the waters near Liberty Island.

The victims were identified as Sara Sanchez, 27, and her 5-month-old daughter, Antonella Garcia. Both were pulled from the water and rushed to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.

The infant’s father, who was Sanchez’s boyfriend, was also aboard the boat when it overturned, according to sources.

Boat was carrying more people than its listed capacity
Investigators are now examining whether the vessel was dangerously overloaded at the time of the crash.

According to NYPD sources and online specifications for the Yamaha AR210, the boat typically has a capacity of about 10 passengers. However, 14 people were reportedly aboard when it capsized.

Authorities are also investigating whether the boat was being operated as an illegal charter.

The U.S. Coast Guard warned that illegal charter operations can present serious safety risks because they may lack required safety equipment and may not be held to the same standards as properly licensed commercial charters.

A source familiar with boating conditions in New York Harbor described recreational boating in the area as particularly challenging, citing hazards including debris, bridge structures and heavy marine traffic.

The source also suggested that, given the conditions in the harbor, an experienced captain might have considered carrying substantially fewer passengers than the boat’s stated maximum capacity.

Captain was not apparently impaired
Hernandez was taken into custody following the crash.

Police conducted toxicology testing as part of the investigation, and law-enforcement sources said there was no immediate indication that Hernandez was impaired by alcohol or drugs at the time of the incident.

However, investigators are continuing to examine the circumstances leading up to the capsizing, including the number of people aboard, the vessel’s operation and whether it was being used illegally as a charter.

Authorities have not ruled out additional charges as the investigation continues.

Massive emergency response launched
The capsizing triggered a major nighttime rescue operation involving multiple agencies.

NYPD Harbor Unit officers, FDNY crews, the U.S. Coast Guard and Air Sea Rescue rushed to the area after receiving reports that a boat had overturned.

Helicopters hovered above the harbor while emergency vessels searched the dark waters for passengers who had been thrown into the water.

The remaining 11 passengers were eventually rescued and transported to NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn, where they were reported to be in stable condition with minor injuries.

Some survivors were still wearing or holding onto their life jackets when they arrived at the hospital.

The emotional aftermath was devastating for relatives waiting for news of their loved ones.

At the hospital Saturday night, one distraught relative could be heard crying out, “No! Why? Why? No!”

Wreckage recovered as investigation continues
By Sunday morning, investigators had recovered the overturned vessel and brought it to the NYPD Harbor Unit’s Brooklyn facility for examination.

Photographs showed the white boat being lifted from the water as investigators worked to determine what caused it to suddenly overturn.

The investigation is expected to focus on several key questions, including whether the vessel was overloaded, whether it was operating as an illegal charter and whether the captain violated safety regulations before the crash.

For the families of Sanchez and her infant daughter, however, the investigation comes too late to change the devastating outcome.

A night that began as a boat trip on New York Harbor ended with a mother and her baby losing their lives, while 11 others survived with injuries.

As investigators continue piecing together what happened in the moments before the vessel overturned, Hernandez remains at the center of the criminal investigation and could face additional charges depending on what authorities uncover.