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At least 2 dead, 22 injured after Mexican Navy ship strikes the Brooklyn Bridge, officials say
By
Christian Santana
and
Brigid Bergin
Published May 17, 2025
Modified May 18, 2025
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By
Christian Santana
and
Brigid Bergin
Published May 17, 2025
Modified May 18, 2025
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At least two people have died and 22 others were injured after a tall ship belonging to the Mexican Navy struck the Brooklyn Bridge Saturday night, according to Mexican government officials.
City officials said the ship, the Cuauhtemoc, struck the bridge shortly before 8:30 p.m. after losing power. Its two tall masts snapped off when it made impact with the 140-year old suspension bridge as drivers sped by in either direction, according to multiple videos of the incident. In one video of the incident, crew members can be seen hanging onto ropes after the masts were severed.
The Mexican Navy wrote in a statement that 22 crew members were injured in the crash, with 11 left in critical condition. The NYPD reported two people died of their injuries.
One of the victims who died was later identified as cadet América Yamilet Sánchez by Veracruz Gov. Rocío Nahle García, who expressed condolences on social media Sunday.
“I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez,” Nahle wrote on X. “My love, support, and solidarity go out to her family.”
The city and U.S. Coast Guard said all members of the crew had been accounted for, but city officials said 277 people were on the ship while the U.S. Coast Guard said 252. The Mexican government said the ship, which arrived in New York City on Thursday, had a total of 277 crew members.
Traffic on the bridge had shut down but resumed just before 11 p.m. Saturday, according to city officials. The Coast Guard also said commercial traffic in the area had been suspended, and that a safety zone had been established from the Brooklyn Bridge to the Manhattan Bridge. Adams said the bridge did not sustain any damage as a result of the incident.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams visits a Mexican Navy tall ship after it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge on Saturday, May 17, 2025.
Michael Appleton/Mayoral Photography Office
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters that the National Transportation Safety Board would be called in to investigate.
In one video of the incident, the ship is seen nearly careening into the waterfront at Brooklyn Bridge Park, as a tugboat pulls alongside in its wake.
“It looked like a ghost ship,” said Andrew Perloff, a DUMBO resident who was walking in Brooklyn Bridge Park around 9:30 p.m. He said he watched more than half a dozen emergency vehicles race to the scene. But by the time he reached the water’s edge, the vessel appeared to be empty.
The boat, which arrived in New York on Thursday, was sailing as part of a training cruise to celebrate Mexico’s independence, and was scheduled to visit 22 ports in 15 countries, according to the Mexican government. The vessel had come from Cozumel, Mexico and was bound for Reykjavik, Iceland next, Mexican officials said.
The Coast Guard said the Cuauhtemoc was being moved to Pier 36 for the time being.
Phil Corso contributed reporting.
This story has been updated with new information provided by government officials.
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new york city
transportation
Christian Santana
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Brigid Bergin
Brigid Bergin is an award-winning senior reporter on the People and Power desk. She is fiercely committed to telling stories that help people engage and support democracy. In 2022, she hosted a live, ten-week call-in politics show ahead of the midterm elections called The People's Guide to Power. Brigid's reporting in 2017 included some of the first coverage of a political newcomer now known as AOC. In 2016, she broke the news of a voter purge in Brooklyn just days before New York’s presidential primary, triggering city, state and federal investigations. Brigid also guest hosts The Brian Lehrer Show and All Of It. She graduated from the University at Albany and the CUNY Newmark School of Journalism. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or Signal 917-723-4719.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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