Two people were killed and 22 others were injured on Saturday as a Mexican Navy ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge.
According to ABC 7, the Mexican Navy ship, identified as the Cuauhtémoc, crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge near Brooklyn Bridge Park just prior to 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. The outlet noted that the Mexican Navy ship had nearly 300 sailors on board at the time of the accident and that each of the ship’s three tall masts snapped in the incident.
ABC 7 reported that Mexican Navy officials have indicated that 22 crew members were injured in Saturday’s incident and that at least 11 of the crew members were in critical condition. Mexican Navy officials also confirmed that two individuals on the ship were killed in the collision.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Veracruz Gov. Rocío Nahle García identified América Yamilet Sánchez, a Mexican Navy cadet, as one of the two individuals killed in Saturday’s ship collision.
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“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez,” the governor tweeted. “My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family. My gratitude to the @SEMAR_mx and my wishes for a speedy recovery for those injured. Veracruz is with you.”
A video shared on social media shows bystanders watching in shock as the Mexican Navy ship crashed into the underside of the Brooklyn Bridge. The three masts of the ship can be seen snapping off as the ship crashed into the bridge.
“Last night, we witnessed a devastating tragedy in New York City, as the Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtemoc allided with the Brooklyn Bridge,” the U.S. Coast Guard said in a post on X. “As the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) begins its investigation, the Coast Guard will provide full support, while maintaining the safety and security of the Port of New York.”
While Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) suggested that President Donald Trump and the Department of Government Efficiency’s job cuts could have “impacted water traffic control” prior to Saturday’s ship collision, Fox News reported that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum told Mexican reporters on Sunday, “We regret that this is being used politically because it was an accident.”
In an interview with Fox News, Kaz Daughtry, deputy mayor of public safety for New York City, also said that Saturday’s collision “seems to be a complete accident.”
“However, we’re going to let the investigators determine what caused…this mechanical malfunction, whether it be with the propulsion system, with the power system,” Daughtry added.
ABC 7 reported that the New York City Department of Transportation confirmed that the Brooklyn Bridge was not damaged by the Mexican ship collision and that traffic could continue to flow across the bridge.
