Tragedy Strikes as Mexican Navy Training Ship Collides with Brooklyn Bridge
Two fatalities and numerous injuries occurred on Saturday evening in New York City when a Mexican navy training vessel collided with the Brooklyn Bridge. The incident took place shortly before 8:30 p.m. Eastern Time, prompting swift responses from local authorities.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), a specialized investigation team is being dispatched to determine the cause of the accident. New York City’s Mayor, Eric Adams, provided updates in a late-night news conference, revealing that a total of 277 individuals were on board the ship, known as the Cuauhtémoc, at the time of the incident.
Casualties and Injuries
Mayor Adams reported that a total of 19 individuals sustained injuries from the collision, with four suffering severe injuries. Tragically, two people ultimately succumbed to their injuries. NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles explained that all those affected were injured while aboard the ship; fortunately, no one fell into the water during the accident.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Total Aboard | 277 |
| Injuries | 19 |
| Severe Injuries | 4 |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Details of the Incident
Witness accounts revealed a chaotic scene, with many describing hearing a loud crunch followed by screams as the ship hit the bridge. Torrey Leonard, a bystander, recounted the moment: “We heard like this wood crunch. We then stood up from dinner and looked at the bridge, and saw what everybody’s already seen happen. It was just horrifying.”
Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, the Mexican ambassador to the United States, stated that the Cuauhtémoc, which has been in service for around 20 years, was navigating from Cozumel, Mexico, to Iceland. The ship had docked in New York City on May 13th and was departing when the collision occurred.
Ongoing Investigation and Response
In response to the incident, the New York City Department of Transportation confirmed via social media that inspectors who examined the bridge found no immediate structural damage. Nonetheless, they urged the public to avoid the surrounding areas, particularly the South Street Seaport in Manhattan and DUMBO in Brooklyn, while authorities continued their investigation. Traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge was temporarily halted but has since been restored.
The iconic Brooklyn Bridge, which first opened in 1883, boasts a main span of nearly 1,600 feet, serving as a crucial transit point in the city. The cause of the ship’s loss of power, which led to the collision, is currently under scrutiny.
