Staten Island, NYThe New York Times (05/08/10) reports 37 people were injured in a Staten Island Ferry crash today. Authorities report the ferry accident, which occurred when the ferry crashed into a dock at the St. George terminal, appeared to be caused by mechanical failure.
According to reports, the ferry's pilots were not able to pull back on the throttle as the vessel approached the Staten Island dock from Manhattan. City Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Kahn said in a news conference that the ferry approached the dock at a normal speed when pilots realized the ferry was not operating as usual. A warning was issued to move passengers away from area of the ferry that would hit the dock and ramps were lowered to decrease the impact.
Reports indicate there were 252 passengers and 18 crew members on the ferry. The New York Times reports seventeen people were taken to hospital for treatment of their injuries, one woman in serious condition with chest pains. CNN (05/08/10), however, reports 37 were treated in hospital with another 18 treated at the scene.
People who were on the ferry at the time of the accident said the scene was chaotic.
Officials were quick to point out that although this was the same ferry, the Andrew J. Barberi, that was involved in a 2003 ferry accident in which 11 people were killed and others were seriously injured, there is no link between this accident and the 2003 crash.