2003 Staten Island Ferry crash

Fatal accident in New York City January 2020 2003 Staten Island Ferry crash Staten Island Ferry Crash 1.jpg 200px Damage to the ferry after the crash 40.6439312 -74.0726063 type:event inline,title 2003 10 15 3:21 p.m. (EDT) St. George Ferry TerminalSt. George, Staten Island New York City 5.34 United States Staten Island Ferry New York City Department of Transportation Passenger Pilot impairment ~1,500 passengers, 15 crew 11 70 On October 15, 2003, at 3:21 p.m. EDT, the Staten Island Ferry vessel Andrew J. Barberi crashed full-speed into a concrete maintenance pier at the St. George Terminal in Upper New York Bay. Eleven people were killed and 70 injured, some critically.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/17/nyregion/the-ferry-crash-the-investigation-inquiry-centers-on-ferry-pilot-in-fatal-crash.html?pagewanted=all Inquiry Centers On Ferry Pilot In Fatal Crash Robert D. McFadden The New York Times October 17, 2003 September 22, 2008https://www.ntsb.gov/investigations/AccidentReports/Reports/MAR0501.pdf Allision of Staten Island Ferry Andrew J. Barberi; St. George, Staten Island, New York; October 15, 2003 March 8, 2005 National Transportation Safety Board January 30, 2020 Pilot Richard J. Smith and New York City ferry director Patrick Ryan pleaded guilty and were jailed for seaman's manslaughter. Smith was piloting under impairment from painkillers, and Ryan failed to enforce the city rule requiring two pilots in the wheelhouse during docking. Crash The 310 ft m on ferry was at the end of its 5 mi km 0 on, 25-minute trip from South Ferry, Manhattan to St. George, Staten Island. On board were approximately 1,500 passengers, one-quarter of the maximum capacity of 6,000. Winds were heavy that afternoon, with gusts of more than 40 mph km/h on. The water in New York Harbor was described as "very choppy".https://www.cbsnews.com/news/deadly-staten-island-ferry-crash/ Deadly Staten Island Ferry Crash Cosgrove-Mather Bootie October 16, 2003 CBS News Instead of docking, the ferry angled away from its berth and collided with a concrete maintenance pier. The pier ripped into the ferry's starboard side and tore into the boat's main deck where many passengers were crowding forward to disembark. The collision left a number of victims trapped in a pile of metal, glass, and splintered wood, while other passengers jumped overboard.Simon English Catriona Davies https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/1444309/Passengers-feared-ferry-had-been-bombed.html Passengers feared ferry had been bombed The Daily Telegraph October 16, 2003 The ferry's hull on the Staten Island end sustained significant damage, including the destruction of bulkheads, support frames and support columns along the starboard side. Fatalities and injuries Ten people were killed, plus an eleventh person who died two months after the crash from injuries sustained during the collision, and 70 others were injured in the crash, including several who lost limbs. All the fatalities and most of the injuries were to passengers on the main deck; some passengers on the upper decks were injured during the crowd's panic, and many were treated for shock.March 2019 The deaths included a survivor of the September 11 attacks and a woman who was placed in a drug-induced coma for two months after the crash.March 2019 Paul Esposito, a 24-year-old waiter, had both legs severed below the knee. His life was saved by Kerry Griffiths, a sightseeing 34-year-old pediatric nurse from England, who applied tourniquets.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/18/nyregion/angel-meets-victim-she-helped-save.html 'Angel' Meets Victim She Helped Save Ian Urbina The New York Times October 18, 2003 September 22, 2008 Aftermath thumb|right|250px|Damage to the pier after the crash The ferry's pilot, Richard J. Smith, fled the scene and was found shortly afterwards at home. Smith had tried to kill himself by cutting his wrists and shooting himself in the chest twice with a pellet gun. He was taken to the same hospital where victims of the crash were being treated.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/16/nyregion/the-ferry-crash-overview-10-die-as-staten-island-ferry-slams-into-pier.html The Ferry Crash: Overview; 10 Die as Staten Island Ferry Slams Into Pier Scott Janny 2003-10-16 The New York Times 2019-03-30 Rashbaum William K. 0362-4331 It was later determined that Smith had lost consciousness while at the ship's controls. He had taken the painkillers tramadol and Tylenol PM, both of which can cause drowsiness, blurred vision and seizures, any or all of which may have contributed to the crash.Death on the Staten Island Ferry Disasters at Sea Smithsonian Channel February 16, 2020 The city rules required two pilots to be present during docking, but this rule had not been enforced by the management of the ferry service, and Smith was the only pilot in the wheelhouse at the time.https://www.nytimes.com/2003/10/25/nyregion/crash-of-ferry-leaves-questions-on-enforcement-of-safety-rules.html Crash of Ferry Leaves Questions on Enforcement of Safety Rules Kennedy Randy 2003-10-25 The New York Times 2019-03-30 McIntire Mike Rashbaum William K. O'Donnell Michelle A total of five people were charged in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Smith was charged with eleven counts of seaman's manslaughter as well as making false statements in his medical report when applying to the U.S. Coast Guard for a renewal of his pilot's license. His doctor, William Tursi, was charged for lying on the same report. The city's ferry director, Patrick Ryan, was also charged with seaman's manslaughter and making false statements arising from his failure to enforce the two-pilot rule. Michael J. Gansas, the ferry's captain, was charged with lying to investigators. John Mauldin, the port captain, was charged with obstruction of justice and lying to investigators; he falsely claimed that information regarding the two-pilot rule had been distributed to employees.Luo Michael Ferry Director Is Charged by U.S. in Fatal Accident https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/05/nyregion/ferry-director-is-charged-by-us-in-fatal-accident.html January 25, 2017 The New York Times August 5, 2004 On August 4, 2004, Smith pleaded guilty to seaman's manslaughter. He was sentenced to 18 months in prison on January 10, 2006. New York's former city ferry director, Patrick Ryan, who had also pleaded guilty to seaman's manslaughter, was sentenced to a year and a day.https://www.nytimes.com/2006/01/10/nyregion/pilot-and-supervisor-sentenced-in-03-staten-island-ferry-crash.html Pilot and Supervisor Sentenced in '03 Staten Island Ferry Crash Rashbaum William K. 2006-01-10 The New York Times 2019-03-30 Chan Sewell The crash resulted in 191 civil lawsuits against the City, leading to more than $90 million in settlements to victims and their families. Structural repairs cost $6.9 million for the boat and $1.4 million for the pier. The crash was at first said by New York City to be an Act of God, with attorneys arguing that the Department of Transportation should not be held responsible for the crash, an argument that disturbed many survivors and New York City residents. http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=53989 City Cites 'Act of God' in Staten Island Crash https://web.archive.org/web/20071010081954/http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=1&aid=53989 NY1 News October 10, 2007 October 10, 2007 dead City attorneys, citing a 19th-century maritime law, would later argue that the total amount of damages sought against the city should not exceed the $14.4 million value of the ferryboat. On February 26, 2007, U.S. District Judge Edward Korman rejected this argument and held that the city could not cap damages, writing: "The city's failure to provide a second pilot or otherwise adopt a reasonable practice that addresses the issue of pilot incapacitation was plainly a substantial factor in causing the disaster."https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna17347868 https://web.archive.org/web/20190330123027/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/17347868/ns/us_news-life/t/judge-wont-curb-damages-ferry-crash-case/ Judge won't curb damages in ferry crash case February 26, 2007 Associated Press March 30, 2019 live Despite these rulings and a similar, independent federal probation report by officer Tony Garoppolo into the culpability of the ferry service's upper management, in which he viewed "the lion's share of culpability in this case as resting with the high level management of the Ferry Service", no other employees of the New York City Department of Transportation were prosecuted.http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/08/bloomberg_and_s.php Bloomberg and Schumer Happy About Ferry Cash, Reminding Us of a Certain Fatal Crash https://web.archive.org/web/20090813181639/http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/archives/2009/08/bloomberg_and_s.php The Village Voice Tom Feeney August 11, 2009 August 13, 2009 dead On May 8, 2010, the same boat was involved in another crash, due to a mechanical failure. The impact caused 37 injuries, one of which was serious.https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/09/nyregion/09ferry.html Dozens Are Injured in Staten Island Ferry Crash McFadden Robert D. 2010-05-08 The New York Times 2019-03-30 References External links NYC ferry crash kills 10, injures dozens – Washington Times Ferry Pilot Sentenced – Sydney Morning Herald Staten Island Angel Memorial – website dedicated to victims of the accident SI Ferry Crash – FDNewYork.com Category:2003 in New York City Category:2003 disasters in the United States Category:October 2003 in the United States Category:Maritime incidents in 2003 Category:Transportation accidents in New York City 2003 crash Category:St. George, Staten Island