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CNN Wolf Blitzer Reports
Staten Island Ferry slams into pier
Aired October 15, 2003 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're following a significant story, a breaking news story right now. There's been a bad crash in New York City involving the Staten Island Ferry. There are extensive injuries.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Kobe Bryant in court but the accuser is in the spotlight. The defense goes on the offensive.
Americans ambushed a new terror target in Gaza.
Allowed to die; the beginning of the end for a Florida woman.
Are the Cubs really cursed?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's a Cubs fan. It was an accident, the poor guy.
BLITZER: A last chance redemption.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.
BLITZER: It's Wednesday, October 15, 2003. Hello from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.
(BREAKING NEWS)
BLITZER: You're looking at a live picture of a breaking story we're following in New York City right now. Emergency workers are at the scene of a serious ferry accident. Officials say there are extensive injuries.
The Associated Press reporting some of the victims lost limbs in the accident. One end of the ferry suffered major damage as the boat was arriving on the Staten Island end of its run across New York Harbor. CNN Producer Rose Arce was just behind the damaged ferry on another boat as the accident happened. Rose is joining us on the phone now from her vantage point. Rose, tell us what you're seeing.
ROSE ARCE, CNN PRODUCER (via telephone): Wolf, I'm told that the Coast Guard has formed a 400-yard perimeter, a debris field they're calling it just behind where this boat hit the dock.
You can see in the water from where I am right now three very large Coast Guard boats and several small police boats and fire department boats in the water sort of scooting back and forth just in the water behind where the boat is.
The ferry boat that struck the pier is sitting kind of awkwardly at its berth with part of it sort of sticking out awkwardly to one side and there are huge waves, unusually large waves for this harbor that are hitting the side of the dock and hitting the boat. You can kind of see them tossing in the wind as they sit out there.
BLITZER: All right, Rose, hold on a second because CNN's Michael Okwu in our New York Bureau is getting some more developments on what precisely happened. Michael, tell us what you know.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we understand at this point according to the fire department that there are as many as five fatalities, again as many as five fatalities but the fire department also reporting that in addition to those possible five fatalities that there are, as you've been reporting, numerous injuries.
Now, again, this ferry is called the Andrew Barbieri. It's about 310 feet long. We understand it holds up to about 6,000 passengers, although at this time it is unclear how many passengers were actually on the ferry at the time of this incident.
We understand that Mayor Michael Bloomberg is on his way to the scene, about 150 members of the fire department treating some of the people down there and also trying to find out what might be going on on that ferry.
Of course, as Rose Arce was reporting the Coast Guard is also on the scene conducting a search and rescue mission and, in fact, securing an area of that 400 yards around that area security zone.
Now, for those people who do not understand the region very well, of course Staten Island is a major borough of New York City. What connects Manhattan to Staten Island is a body of water, New York Bay.
It's about 5.2 miles between the two areas and every single day ferries make a run between Manhattan and Staten Island. It is considered to be one of the most reliable ways to transport, clearly not the case today.
According to some New York City officials they say that they are still trying to look at what might have been the cause of this but they believe that the wind might have been an issue. At some point this afternoon at about three o'clock they measured about 31 miles up to 43 miles per hour at LaGuardia Airport. You can imagine on the open seas that the wind was just as rough - Wolf.
BLITZER: Well, let me get back to Rose. She's out there behind this ferry, Rose Arce our CNN producer. What about the wind? How much of a factor is it now and could this have been the cause of what happened, Rose?
ARCE: Well, Wolf, I can tell you that I was out on the outdoor observation deck of my ferry boat at the time of the crash. That's the same part of the boat that's now sticking out into the water into the debris field.
And I was (unintelligible) by tourists, school children, you know, and we were trying to take pictures because this is a very commonly traveled route by people who want to take pictures of the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan.
And, it was very, very hard to keep your balance while standing up, in fact people were holding on to the sides of the boat. Several of the children went in very, very quickly. You know it was - literally it was so - the wind was so strong that if you stood there for a few minutes you would eventually get moved several feet to one side.
Also, the waves which are fairly common in this harbor usually are so high that you actually would get a little bit of splash and we're several feet above the water where we are.
BLITZER: Rose, under normal circumstances when do they shut down the ferry? How windy does it have to get? How big of a wave situation does there have to develop in order for the ferry service between Staten Island and Manhattan to shut down?
ARCE: I don't know what parameters they use, Wolf, but I can tell you there was no attempt to either slow down or close the ferries today. I watched that boat (unintelligible) ahead of us and, you know, there was no delay.
It left on time. Children got on. Workers got on. Tourists got on and it took right off as did ours despite the fact that you can, you know, the force of the wind is strong enough that the boat even docked sways and hits against the berth so there was certainly no attempt to stop either of these boats from taking off.
BLITZER: Michael, how are they dealing with the injured? Are they taking them by helicopter to local hospitals? Do you know anything, the extent, how many people have been injured? You're reporting at least five fatalities, five dead people as a result of this crash.
OKWU: We don't know numbers at this time, Wolf, but we do know that they've been transported to some of the area hospitals, particularly an area hospital on Staten Island. Don't know the specific numbers at this point but according to at least one eyewitness at the hospital in Staten Island there were "numerous people filing through the hallways of that hospital" and that they expect many more people to come in this afternoon.
And, again, we understand that at least one man lost his leg in this accident and the Associated Press going even further, saying some of the victims, plural now, victims lost their limbs as well - Wolf.
BLITZER: This is an unusual situation, Michael and Rose. Let me go to Michael first. Both of you have been living in New York City for a long time. How often are there these kinds of ferry accidents?
OKWU: Well, it's fairly unusual, Wolf. Actually, there was something of a freak accident a few years ago back in 1997. Apparently there was a car that was trying to get onto the ferry on the Staten Island side and there was an accident there. Some people were injured.
But this is a highly unusual and certainly an extraordinary thing. Certainly if the wind was a factor here you rarely hear about this kind of thing happening. Again, there are some 65,000 New Yorkers who use that ferry every single day. You can do the numbers on that. That means many, many more annually. It is considered again, Wolf, to be one of the safest ways to travel here in New York City so today a highly extraordinary day.
BLITZER: Rose, the Associated Press is quoting eyewitnesses as saying that several people, many people actually jumped for their lives, jumping from the ferry into the water of New York Bay. You're right behind this ferry. Did you see people in the water?
ARCE: Yes, Wolf, I didn't see people in the water but what I can tell you is this water is so rough that I can't imagine that anyone who jumped in the water would be visible for very long. I mean it's really just that rough and the current is that strong.
Also, I was talking to our ferry boat operator here. He says he's been working this ferry for 16 years. He cannot remember a single fatal accident and he can't remember the boats ever having stopped running because of the wind.
He says that occasionally some ferry boats that carry cars have stopped running because of the wind because they're balanced a little bit differently but he says that the passenger ferries are simply just so large, so heavy and so, you know, water strong as he called it that there's no reason to really stop even when the wind is this bad and even when the tide is so strong.
BLITZER: Michael, I take it that all ferry service between Manhattan and Staten Island has been suspended. This is the rush hour as we know after five o'clock in New York right now. What other alternative ways can people get between Manhattan and Staten Island with ferry service down?
OKWU: Well, Wolf, that's one of the things that New York City officials have to deal with at this point. There's really no real way to get there directly. One has to take a - you can ride on a bridge. You can drive basically.
There's a bridge that connects the lower part of Manhattan to other ports in New Jersey and then from New Jersey perhaps you can get into Staten Island. So, this is a way to get across there but most commuters do not have those emergency plans ready so it's just a very highly unusual thing to happen.
One other thing, Wolf, to mention, according to at least three eyewitnesses who have called in to some local affiliates of ours, after this accident occurred apparently there was no announcement made over the PA system as to what to do, so just adding to what Rose was saying about the confusion at that site.
And, of course, the Coast Guard is in the area possibly looking into whether or not there might have been travelers overboard. Now we haven't gotten that confirmed but clearly that's something that emergency rescue workers are taking a look at right now - Wolf.
BLITZER: And I just want to be very precise, Michael, on this point given that it's New York City. Is there any indication of foul play or does this look like only an accident this crash involving this ferry at this point knowing that all the information is very sketchy, preliminary coming in to us?
OKWU: Well, you're right to say that it's sketchy, Wolf, and certainly a little premature at this point. Investigators down at the scene right now trying to figure this out and, in fact, their most important concern right now is making sure that there's nobody in that water and, in fact, that there are other people on that boat who are hurt to try to get them medical attention as soon as possible.
New York City officials are not telling us what they think was responsible here but, clearly, there's a great deal of speculation about the weather, about the wind. I want to repeat again, Wolf, gusts up to about 43 miles per hour this afternoon at LaGuardia Airport.
A gale warning was in effect at the time so clearly these were not the best traveling situations but one has to imagine that the ferry has made it through on these waters in similar conditions - Wolf.
BLITZER: Rose, and give us an update now from your vantage point. You're out there in New York Bay. You're aboard another boat behind this ferry. How windy is it right now? What's the current situation? Have the winds died down a bit? I think we may have lost Rose Arce. We're going to try to reconnect with her.
Let me let Michael wrap this up and gather some more information. Six thousand people potentially, this ferry has a capacity of including 6,000 people. It's a huge ferry.
Rose Arce, if you're back with us, what are the conditions there right now in terms of the wind, the surf? Rose? Unfortunately, I don't think Rose can hear us right now.
Michael, do you want to try to handle that?
OKWU: I'm sorry, Wolf, what was your question?
BLITZER: This is a huge ferry. Potentially it has the capacity of 6,000 people. We see some pictures. We're looking at live pictures, taped pictures now from our affiliate WNYW. What are the conditions as far as we know right now? Has the wind died down a bit since this accident?
OKWU: That's unclear at this point, Wolf, whether the wind has died down. At this point it may be a bit of a moot point since the Coast Guard is encircling that area and they've essentially stopped any kind of traffic. So, if in fact the wind is as high as it was early this afternoon when it occurred, then the possibility of that happening would, of course, be not.
But, Wolf, it's important to also mention in addition to the fact that this ferry had a capacity of carrying about 6,000 people which is an extraordinary number of people on a ferry of course, this happened at about 3:45 this afternoon. One can only cross their fingers and hope that since this was not the very top of the rush hour that the ferry was not close to capacity - Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Michael Okwu thanks very much. We're going to be getting back to you throughout this hour. Rose Arce, we'll be getting back to her as well.
Once again for our viewers just tuning in a huge ferry slammed into a pier going from Staten Island into Manhattan, Michael Okwu reporting at least five fatalities. There could be more. Many people have been injured in what is clearly a bad, bad crash. We'll continue to follow this story.
We're also following the bombshells that occurred in Eagle, Colorado earlier today, day two of the preliminary hearing involving the sexual assault charge against Kobe Bryant. We'll tell you precisely what happened today and what's next that and much more coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BREAKING NEWS)
BLITZER: You're looking at this live picture, a ferry, a huge ferry potentially killing 6,000 people, we don't know how many aboard, slammed into a pier in New York from Staten Island at least five people killed, many others injured. We're following this breaking story for you. We'll get back to that shortly.
In the meantime, though, let's move on to some other important news we're covering today. Will Kobe Bryant go on trial on a felony sexual assault charge? It's now up to a Colorado judge to decide.
The NBA star's preliminary hearing is over and Bryant is heading home to southern California to await the judge's decision which won't come until Monday at the earliest.
Inside the courtroom, dramatic and controversial testimony as the judge decided to allow testimony about the accuser's sexual history. Our National Correspondent Gary Tuchman heard every word of it. He was inside the courthouse. He's joining us now live with details from Eagle - Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the preliminary hearing came to an end with both sides Kobe Bryant's attorneys and prosecutors, getting a chance to give closing arguments.
And, you're right, the judge today allowed some of the accuser's sexual history to come into play and today Pamela Mackey, Kobe Bryant's defense attorney said: "She, the 19-year-old accuser, is not worthy of your belief." She was saying this to the judge who has to decide if Kobe Bryant will go on trial. She also said this is an extremely thin case based almost entirely on hearsay.
Now what the defense is trying to show is that multiple and recent sexual encounters of this woman close to the time of the sexual encounter, which she says wasn't consensual with Kobe Bryant, led to the injuries she had.
According to a detective who took the stand today he acknowledged that this woman did have sex with another person three days before the un-consensual sex he says with Kobe Bryant but the prosecution says none of this is true.
The prosecution says that he held her by the back of her neck, referring to Kobe Bryant, with his hand and had sexual intercourse and they said, yes, she did not have bruises on her neck from Kobe Bryant choking her.
They said Kobe Bryant choked her but they said she had a bruise on her jaw because when Kobe Bryant put his left hand on her neck, his left thumb was on her jaw. Either way the prosecution says they have faith in the accuser.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK HURLBERT, EAGLE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: I am confident that the judge will find probable cause and will bind this case over and I am confident in the people's case versus Kobe Bryant.
DET. DOUG WINTERS, EAGLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: We have discussed this case amongst ourselves and also the D.A.'s office was onboard with us. I don't feel that there was a rush to judgment. We worked this case like we would any other type of sexual assault.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: So, the judge left the courtroom in suspense. He said he will issue his decision perhaps Monday but definitely not this week, no earlier than Monday, Wolf back to you.
BLITZER: And there was this charge that the defense attorneys made that there was forensic evidence that could have exonerated Kobe Bryant that the prosecution forgot to mention to the judge or failed to mention to the judge.
TUCHMAN: Well, the main forensic evidence they talked about today was that the underwear that the 19-year-old wore to the hospital the day after this incident, the detective has acknowledged that there was semen and pubic hair that did not come from Kobe Bryant.
BLITZER: All right, it's going to get very, very graphic. It's going to get increasingly ugly presumably as we go down the road. Thanks very much for that Gary Tuchman for that report.
Let's get some more perspective now on these latest courtroom developments. For that we turn to Larry Pozner, he's a criminal defense attorney and Craig Silverman, a former Denver prosecutor. They're also joining us from outside the courthouse in Eagle. They were both inside during - they were both watching and listening to this dramatic development.
Craig, let me begin with you. Give us your impressions on the surprises, what we saw, what we didn't see. What stands out in your mind?
CRAIG SILVERMAN, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Well, I was shocked. It was a shocking display of prosecutorial weakness and ineptitude. You know the prosecutors fought like crazy when Pam Mackey said this woman had sex with three men in three days but it now appears that they had a factual for saying that, the defense did, this revelation about the unaccounted for sperm.
It appears clear that this young woman wanted some type of sexual encounter with Kobe Bryant. Perhaps it went to a point she did not desire but when she indicated that the detective testified Kobe Bryant stopped. Given that evidence it's hard to believe a Colorado jury will convict.
BLITZER: Well what about, Craig, the notion that the probable cause might not necessarily have been shown and the judge might simply throw it all out? Do you believe that the prosecutorial ineptness went that far?
SILVERMAN: No, I don't think so and here's why. The argument of team Kobe was that it was all hearsay. Well there is one bit on non hearsay. That was Kobe Bryant's statement to the police where he apparently denied any sexual activity. The judge has to take an inference from that, a bad inference for Kobe Bryant.
And just think about it, Wolf, this is the judge who said the accuser did not have to show up because they had enough evidence without her. It would be pretty strange for him to now say because the accuser didn't testify there's no probable cause.
BLITZER: Larry, you were listening and you were watching. Give us your sense of what you saw how big of a bombshell did we have today? LARRY POZNER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We had a series of bombshells. Every time Pamela Mackey went into a new area it was an area that was devastating to the prosecution theory of the case.
What happened, Wolf, is that Pamela Mackey and the defense demonstrated over and over a series of actions lasting several hours in which the complaining witness clearly tried to be alone with Kobe Bryant.
She placed him in a room far down a hallway away from the guards. She went to see him using a circuitous route that was outside of the hotel. She even told the detectives she knew if she went in the room that something physical was likely to happen and she went in the room.
She says there was consensual kissing, consensual hugging, and then strangely enough she says that when she indicated she wanted him to stop he stopped. Given that evidence and the other bombshells that were dropped today it's very hard to see why the case has proceeded this far.
But remember, Wolf, under Colorado law probable cause is the lowest possible standard and the prosecutor makes that offer statement. Proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard and there's real question whether they can make that.
BLITZER: Well, but you agree with Craig that it's almost certain that the judge will go forward with a trial on Monday when he makes his announcement?
SILVERMAN: The judge, I think, will order that there is probable cause. He is not saying I find the case strong. He's not even saying I find the witness credible. He is merely saying there exists some evidence when viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution that justified the filing of charges. That's good enough to get past preliminary hearing but it's a far cry short of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
BLITZER: Craig, what about the whole issue of the blood that was found on Kobe Bryant's shirt blood matching hers?
SILVERMAN: Right there's no question that during sexual intercourse she bled on him but the question now becomes was that an old injury that was re-aggravated by the sexual activity with Kobe Bryant? It could have been further aggravated.
Understand, Wolf, what the defense is suggesting is that this young woman might have had another sexual encounter between the time she left Kobe Bryant's room and the time she reported it to the sheriff's department. That's a bombshell.
BLITZER: One final question for you, Larry. The whole issue of the bellhop who presumably is going to be a witness for the prosecution is going to testify presumably she was distraught. He was so concerned he followed her home and she told him almost contemporaneously what she says happened. POZNER: Yes, Wolf, we had been led to believe that the bellhop was what's called the outcry witness that she encounters him and immediately tells him that she's been sexually assaulted.
But what Pam Mackey demonstrated today is that the first person she encountered was another co-worker, the night auditor, who asked her to continue doing work which the complaining witness did and that the night auditor will testify she saw absolutely no sign that this woman was in distress and the complaining witness voiced nothing about being attacked. All of that will hurt the prosecution case.
BLITZER: All right, we're going to have to leave it right there but we're not leaving this story. Larry Pozner, as usual, thanks very much. Craig Silverman, appreciate your eyewitness account of what happened inside, good to have both of you as our eyes and ears on this kind of sensitive story. You bring a lot of legal expertise to the issue. We'll get back to both of you. Thanks very much.
(BREAKING NEWS)
We're also following a very important breaking story in New York City. A ferry, a huge ferry, has slammed into a pier in Manhattan, a ferry coming from Staten Island. There could have been as many as 6,000 people onboard. We don't know how many people were onboard. We do know at least five people have been killed. Many others have been injured. We'll get an update from the Coast Guard. That's coming up.
Also, Americans under attack, a deadly blast in Gaza targets a convoy carrying American diplomats.
And it's flu season but are your kids getting them at the right age, that's flu shots we're talking about? We'll tell you what the government is now recommending. There's been a change.
And this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the (unintelligible) of the Cubs for 2003, you know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The Cubs' curse and now the blame game. Is it the goat or is it this guy? Take a look. We're live from Wrigley Field.
But first today's News Quiz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER (voice-over): During another Major League championship series a similar case of fan involvement occurred. Which team benefited from that, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, the answer coming up?
(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Welcome back to our continuing coverage of this crash. A Staten Island ferry slammed into a pier in Manhattan. At least five people are reported dead. We have confirmed at least five dead, many others injured.
Let's get an update. Coast Guard Petty Officer Matthew Belson is joining us now on the phone.
Petty Officer, what can you tell us about the extent of dead and injured?
MATTHEW BELSON, U.S. COAST GUARD: Well, we're still getting reports in, Wolf. Don't have a definite figure yet of injured and dead.
I can tell you that the Coast Guard right now -- we've got three rescue boats on the scene that have established a 400-yard security zone. And we're working with the other response crews to, of course, search the waters, looking for any victims, but also letting the rescue crews from the FDNY do their jobs on the ferry.
BLITZER: What -- do you have a suspicion now, some indications what happened?
BELSON: Not at this time, Wolf. Again, it's -- with any marine casualty investigation, as it's called, we have Coast Guard investigators on the scene right now. And their job is going to be to determine what caused this accident, and, of course, you know, to learn from it and prevent it from happening in the future.
BLITZER: We had heard that conditions were pretty bad. Wind was pretty intense. The waves were very high, the surf. Is that something you're looking at right now?
BELSON: It certainly would be one of the things. And, you know -- and with any kind of investigation, you want to look at all the possibilities. So, weather and the currents and, you know, perhaps the sun or traffic out on the water. But, again, we're -- it's too early to speculate, and, you know, an investigation unfortunately can sometimes take weeks and months. But the main goal of any marine investigation is to find out what happened and learn from it and prevent it from happening again.
BLITZER: We had heard reports that there were eyewitnesses -- eyewitness accounts saying they saw people jumping overboard, presumably to try to save their lives. Do you have any indications that there are people over -- out there, and that -- if you have divers and boats in the area looking for individuals?
BELSON: Well, again, it's -- it's -- you know, this is -- this is a truly a tragic accident. And right now, we've got, you know, a full multi-agency response, rescue. Agencies out there that work in New York Harbor and the Coast Guard is working closely with all of them. So we have boats our on the water, we've got helicopters that are looking around to make sure if anyone was, you know, in the water, that we'd be able to pick them up. BLITZER: All right. We'll be checking back with you, Coast Guard Petty Officer Michael Belson. Thanks very much.
Let's go to Michael Fagen now. He's with the St. Vincent's Catholic's Medical Center in New York City. He's joining us on the phone.
Michael, what can you tell us about the extent of injuries from your vantage point?
MICHAEL FAGEN, ST. VINCENT'S CATHOLIC MED. CTR.: What we're seeing right now is we've gotten in about 10 patients, some with massive trauma and others of them hypothermia. That would be some of the victims that had either fallen into the water or jumped into the water, as we just heard in the previous report.
BLITZER: The -- are these life-threatening injuries, based on what you can tell or will these people survive?
FAGEN: Some of them -- the people with massive trauma would be in critical condition and, you know, therefore it would be -- you know, it would difficult to say at this point what their prognosis would be.
BLITZER: Ten people -- is it -- that's at your hospital. Are you getting indications there are many others injured who have been taken to other local hospitals?
FAGEN: We are a level 1 trauma center on Staten Island. And there is another hospital here as well. We are anticipating more patients will -- will continue to be brought to us as the evening continues.
BLITZER: So you're the destination of choice in these kinds of situations in Staten Island?
FAGEN: Well, we would be one of two destinations of choice, yes, that's correct. But with -- you know, with the level 1 trauma center, we have all of the major specialties available to deal with these kinds of emergency situations.
BLITZER: Have you gotten any indication from -- have any of these patients been able to communicate with you or your staff and said what they believed might have happened?
FAGEN: I --you know, I haven't gotten reports to that effect. All I'm hearing is what, you know, is being broadcast is that we have had very high winds in New York City today that may have contributed to this.
BLITZER: Michael Fagen, thanks very much for that. Good luck to all of the people. Our prayers are with them at the St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Center in Staten Island.
CNN's Jason Carroll is now on the scene as well.
Jason, you're on the phone. Tell us what you're seeing, what you're hearing.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, well, I can tell you first what I'm seeing, which is a number of emergency (UNINTELLIGIBLE) rescue boats out in the water there. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) about 3:20, the boat was headed in on the normal routine, just like every other...
BLITZER: Jason, I'm going to interrupt because your line is breaking up. We're going to try to get a better connection. CNN's Jason Carroll is on the scene.
CNN's Michael Okwu is also covering this story for us. He's in our New York bureau gathering more information. Michael, what have you learned?
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the number at this point as far as the fire department is concerned -- still as many as five fatalities at this point. Fire department still reporting that there are numerous injuries down at the scene, as the Coast Guard, as you just heard from, conducting a search and rescue mission around the area. And it was interesting to hear from the local trauma unit there, the hospital there, saying that they are treating patients for hypothermia. So clearly those reports about some of the victims falling, jumping down into the sea were, in fact, accurate.
And we also understand from New York City officials that ferry service has stopped, of course, between Manhattan and Staten Island at this point. And those boats that were in the water, the ships that were in the water at the point of this accident, were turned around and returned back to Manhattan.
And again, 65,000 people take this ferry everyday. We are now at the heart of rush hour. So there are going to be a lot of stranded people on Manhattan. New York City officials are going to be having to deal with that in the coming moments -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And just to be precise, this ferry slammed into the pier, into the dock on -- in -- on Staten Island. It was coming from Manhattan. I just want to make sure our viewers are clear on that. I may have misspoken earlier. Michael Okwu, stand by.
Jason Carroll -- we've got reporters covering this story from every angle. We're going to have much more on this -- what happened on this ferry as it came into Staten Island. We'll continue to follow that story.
We're also following the bomb shells that occurred in that courtroom in Eagle, Colorado earlier today, the Kobe Bryant sexual assault preliminary hearing. It's over with. We're standing by. The judge expected to make an announcement perhaps as early as Monday -- Monday on whether to go forward with the trial.
Much more news. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: More now on our story involving Kobe Bryant. The preliminary hearing, day two that hearing is now over. His lawyer, Pamela Mackey, stole the spotlight inside the courtroom with tactics some call brilliant and others scandalous.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Pamela Mackey's reputation may depend on the day or whatever hearing we've just been through. Is she the attorney who's just doing her job, whose team today claimed to have forensic evidence pointed to someone other than Kobe Bryant, possibly causing the accuser's injuries? Or is she the person accused of misrepresenting evidence in order to publicly smear the alleged victim?
Which lawyer is the real Pamela Mackey? The one who used the accuser's name six times in court last week or the one who never mentioned the name today. Not much gray area when lawyers discuss the performance of Kobe's lead attorney.
PAMELA HAYES, ATTORNEY: I think she did it knowing what she had to do.
WENDY MURPHY, FORMER PROSECUTOR: We don't want people to be harmed through their participation in the criminal justice system.
BLITZER: So which reputation sticks?
Former prosecutor Karen Stinehauser (ph), who often went against Pamela Mackey when Mackey was a public defender in Denver, told us Mackey is a worthy adversary. Known as quote, "the ultimate professional and ethical defense attorney." The prosecutor has never known her to knowingly violate a court order and says, Mackey's firm, Hadden, Morgan and Former (ph) has an excellent reputation in Colorado.
The 47-year-old has spent most of her professional life at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. And has taken on at least one other high profile case involving an athlete. Mackey represented former Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Wah (ph) in a case. Charges were dismissed.
PAMELA MACKEY, KOBE BRYANT'S LAWYER: Kobe Bryant is innocent in the charges filed against him today.
BLITZER: She's had a firm grasp on the management of Bryant's defense from the start. But last week, when she cross-examined the detective and asked if the accuser's injuries were quote, "consistent with someone who had sex with three different men in three days," it seemed everyone had a strong opinion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was nothing but contemptible, disgusting and it was sleazy.
DAVID LUGERT, COLORADO DEFENSE ATTORNEY: She's sending a message to the public that she will zealously represent her client.
BLITZER: She has also clearly shown an ability to change tactics, like no longer referring to the accuser by name. JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: I think Pamela Mackey, quite appropriately, felt a little ashamed of her behavior last week and in fairness to her, she corrected it.
BLITZER: But also in fairness, the former prosecutor pointed out it was Pamela Mackey who previously tried to get these hearings closed to the media, knowing what was coming.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And joining us now to talk about the legal maneuvers in the Kobe Bryant case is the former Colorado prosecutor Michael Steinberg. Michael, thanks very much. First of all, Pamela Mackey's tactics during these two days of this preliminary hearing, how would you assess them?
MICHAEL STEINBERG, FORMER PROSECUTOR: I think she's a true professional. I know Pam. I've worked on a case with her, a fairly high profile case with her that did not garner as much attention as this case but did garner significant attention. She is the consummate professional.
I believe she put up today what she said she was going to put up on Friday. And that is, she supported the question that was the alleged bombshell on Friday regarding the forensic evidence that would help to acquit Kobe Bryant.
I don't believe we heard a lot of that evidence today. I believe a lot of that was heard in chambers. But we did hear some. It was significant and powerful evidence, attacking the credibility of the victim.
BLITZER: There was a lot of speculation going into this preliminary hearing that the young prosecutor who's handling the case may be way over his head in dealing with someone like Pamela Mackey, the high powered defense attorneys that Kobe Bryant has retained. Based on these two days, based on what we know right now, what's your opinion?
STEINBERG: I won't say Mark is over his head. I believe he's an excellent prosecutor. But this kind of defense, the kind of attention the case is getting, the resources that Kobe can bring to bare on a very small rural district attorney's office, a very small rural police department is enormous. This isn't L.A., this is Eagle County, Colorado. You have to understand that Mark is looking at the kind of scrutiny that he perhaps has never been through before.
I look at this case as a submarine sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Every hundred feet the pressure increases, every weakness, every opportunity to exploit weaknesses in the district attorney's case will be exploited. We have just seen a touch of what we can expect in trial. And I do believe this case will be bound over on Monday and will go to trial.
BLITZER: Even her ability to poke some holes into it were impressive? STEINBERG: They were impressive. I believe the district attorney was shot back and has to regroup. He talked about a sanitized version, that this is just a screening device. Those are accurate. We heard 90 percent or more of their case in the preliminary hearing. It is an a abbreviated version, perhaps. Live testimony will take place at trial. But the truth of the matter is the district attorney's case is less than overwhelming. I believe Kobe Bryant is about to mount a very serious, very powerful defense and prosecutors should beware.
BLITZER: All right. Thanks for that assessment, Michael Steinberg.
We will get back to our sop story when we come back from this break. That Staten Island Ferry crash, as it came into a harbor, it came into a pier on Staten Island from Manhattan. We're awaiting word to New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg. He's on his way there. We expect to get that fairly soon. Stay with us.
CARROLL: And I'm Jason Carroll, live at the scene of the ferry accident in Stanton Island, where at least five people are confirmed dead. We're awaiting a press conference. I'll have a live update coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: This is a bad picture of a police cruiser apparently just crashed into some sort of van, multiple injuries in the Los Angeles area in North Ridge. We're getting these live pictures from our affiliate. We'll follow this story as well. Bad accidents happening on both sides of the country. This one in Los Angeles, another one, of course, in New York City Staten Island, to be precise. The Staten island ferry, at least one of them slamming to a pier as it approached Staten Island. CNN's Jason Carroll is on the scene for us. Jason, tell us what you're seeing and hearing right now.
CARROLL: Right now, we are here at the St. George Ferry Terminal. You can take a look behind me down in the pit area. That's where all the emergency crews, the firefighters, the police officers have been gathered for quite some time now. We have been out here at least 30, 40 minutes or so. That is where most of the activity is centered on at this point.
Earlier, you heard reports about rescue some boats out in the harbor there. We have seen some activity in the harbor. Not like what you're seeing down there.
To recap what happened, it was at 3:20 this afternoon when this ferry was making its way across the harbor. And by all accounts, ran into trouble when it attempted to dock. That is where many of the people are saying they heard some sort of loud grinding sound, as it came into the docking area.
Still trying to confirm exactly what the cause of this accident was. But at this point, we can tell you, at least five people dead. Fire department saying many more injuries, severe injuries, such as amputees, lacerations, massive amounts of trauma. We are also being told as we were down here, a number of people are still unaccounted for. A number of people on that ferry still unaccounted for at this point. Right now, we are waiting for a press conference from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as the police commissioner. They are expected to give us the most updated information, in terms of exactly what caused this accident. They're expected to update us in terms numbers. Because we're hearing more reports about injuries and fatalities -- Wolf.
BLITZER: CNN's Jason Carroll on the scene for us. We'll get back to you, Jason. Thanks very much.
Let's check a few other important news items that happened today.
A life and death decision has been carried out in Florida. Just a short time ago, the feeding tube was removed from a woman who's been in a coma-like state since 1990. And now, her death could be just days away. Terry Schaivo has been at the center of a long legal battle between her husband, who wanted the tube removed and her parents who fought the decision. The parents say they're still hoping Florida Governor Jeb Bush will intervene in the case and order the tube to be reinserted. We'll follow that for you.
Babies and toddlers in daycare centers around the United States may soon be required to get flu shots. An advisory panel at the Center For Disease Control and Prevention, has recommended this afternoon that children between six and 23 months get flu shots. If approved the recommendations will go into effect a year from now.
In the Middle East, there was a new target in Gaza today as a roadside bomb ripped through convoy carrying U.S. diplomats? Three American security guards were killed. Another seriously wounded. The diplomats were headed to interviews with Palestinian students seeking scholarships here in the United States. There has been no claim of responsibility. But President Bush is blaming the Palestinian Authority saying, I'm quoting, they should have acted long ago to fight terror.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat signaled a possible crackdown by reappointing a police command with a law and order reputation. The FBI is sending a team of experts to investigate the attack.
Now, another major story we're following. Is the ambush of Americans the final nail in the coffin of U.S. peace efforts. Actually that's the story involving the attack in Gaza today. Does the United States have any choice but to carry on. Let's get some assessment. Now the former U.S. ambassador Edward Djerejian served in Israel and Syria, was a key player in many early stages of the peace process. He now heads the Baker Institute at the Rice University in Texas. Ambassador thanks very much for joining us.
It looks like Americans now are formally being targeted by terrorists in Gaza, in this crisis. Israelis, of course, have been targeted for a long time.
What's your assessment of what we saw today? EDWARD DJEREJIAN, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: This is a very dangerous deterioration in the whole situation in the Middle East. It is a -- another attempt by the extremists and terrorists to destabilize the region, to not allow peace to have a chance. It is an effort to destroy the efforts, bringing the Israelis and the Palestinians together. It does require the Palestinian Authority to finally -- to finally get its political act in order, get a prime minister who can take action and a minister of interior who can really get control of the Palestinian Security Authorities in order to prevent these types of incidents and to really begin to dismantle the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Militants
BLITZER: Mr. Ambassador, when you were the U.S. ambassador in Tel Aviv, you used to drive down to Gaza all the time. You had a convoy presumably you had security guards. This looks like a pretty sophisticated operation, this remotely triggered device going after an armored car, armored SUV. Does this mean U.S. diplomats, unless they get assurances from Palestinian personnel should avoid going to Gaza?
DJEREJIAN: I don't think we can avoid maintaining our involvement in Gaza and the West Bank, Wolf. We simply play too critical and important a role. Obviously, as you mentioned, is that deliberate targeting of American diplomats and security personnel personnel. It's a definite attempt to get at the American position in the Arab/Israel equation. We don't have any choice. There are two things here. Not only the security measures that have to be put in place as you mentioned, but it's also question of giving both the Palestinians and Israelis the political context in which they can gravitate, make the hard decisions to get to a political solution. As you well know, there simply is no military solution to this Arab/Israel conflict.
BLITZER: Mr. Ambassador, unfortunately we have to leave it there. We will continue this conversation on many other occasions. Unfortunately, because the situation is so bad. Thanks very much for that immediate assessment, Ambassador Edward Djerejian of the Baker Institute at the Rice University in Texas.
I want to go back to CNN's Michael Okwu in New York City. He has new developments on the ferry crash in New York. Michael, tell us what you learned.
OKWU: Wolf, the U.S. Coast Guard in Washington D.C. telling CNN the master of the vessel involved here went home and committed suicide. Now, it's unclear whether he expressed anything to his family or in a note or anything of that matter, but again, the U.S. Coast Guard, out of Washington D.C., telling us that the master of the vessel involved here, the Andrew Barberi, which crashed on the dock in Staten Island this afternoon a little after 3:20, went home after the accident and committed suicide.
BLITZER: This is a shocking, shocking development indeed, Michael, which raises so many questions. And obviously you and I don't have the answers to, but presumably we'll be getting more information in the hours to come.
What do we know right now about the extent of killed, deaths and injuries?
OKWU: We know at this point, according to the fire department in New York City, that as many as five fatalities here, they say there are numerous injuries. We understand now that there are, at least 10 patients at an area hospital in Staten Island that are being treated. Some of them suffering from hypothermia, others involved in massive trauma. And again, according to the spokesman at that hospital, some of those victims are in critical condition. Again, Wolf, this is a vessel that had the capacity to carry as many as 6,000 people. We are told that during rush hour, it usually carried about half that number. It is unclear at this point how many people were on the vessel at the time of this accident, but clearly, the coast guard is on the scene, a fire department is on the scene. We're expecting to hear from Mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as some officials with the Office of Emergency Management later this afternoon -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Michael, I want to recap for our viewers who may just be tuning in. What Michael Okwu is reporting, the master of the vessel involved in this accident went home and committed suicide, that according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard. A shocking development suggesting perhaps the master is taking personal responsibility for this crash.
CNN's Rose Arce, one of our producers happened to be near this crash on another boat. She is joining us on the phone from Staten Island. Rose, tell us what you are see, what you're hearing?
ROSE ARCE, CNN PRODUCER: Actually, our boat has now turned around as has all the other boats on the water. They were heading to Staten Island -- and come back to the Manhattan Ferry Terminal. They told us that service is now closed. That people are going to have to take buses home. I have to say the passengers on my ferry very upset upon hearing there had actually been fatalities. Most of the people on my boat, as I think you can presume from the other boat, given the time of day, were heading over to Staten Island, some just for the view. It's commonly used as way of seeing the Staten Island, Statue of liberty, Ellis Island, all things the ferry passes by. So, we had all crowded on the exterior observation deck, just as the people on the ferry in front of us had, to take pictures and were being buffeted by the wind. So, several people on my boat feeling like they had a bit of a near miss here since they had also been standing outside.
BLITZER: Rose, you may have not heard Michael Okwu's report. A coast guard spokesman telling CNN that the master of the vessel went home after the accident and committed suicide. Who operates these ferries, Rose, that go between Staten Island and Manhattan.
ARCE: Well, I can tell you that the crew on my boat -- these are operated by the city. Many of the men that I spoke to that operate our boat have been working here 15-20 years operating these vessels. On my boat they were also very, very upset to hear there had been an accident. One man telling me in his 16 years as an boat operator, he has never seen an accident of this magnitude. Very small things perhaps, but never something where people had been injured. He said they take great care with this vessels since they are commuter vessels and they full tourist, children sometimes -- you know, very upset. BLITZER: Understandably so. Rose Arce, our producer on the scene for us. Michael Okwu, reporting important information on this story as well. CNN of course will stay with this story through out the night.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired October 15, 2003 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Breaking News.
WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: We're following a significant story, a breaking news story right now. There's been a bad crash in New York City involving the Staten Island Ferry. There are extensive injuries.
Stand by for hard news on WOLF BLITZER REPORTS.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Kobe Bryant in court but the accuser is in the spotlight. The defense goes on the offensive.
Americans ambushed a new terror target in Gaza.
Allowed to die; the beginning of the end for a Florida woman.
Are the Cubs really cursed?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He's a Cubs fan. It was an accident, the poor guy.
BLITZER: A last chance redemption.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ANNOUNCER: CNN live this hour, WOLF BLITZER REPORTS, live from the nation's capital with correspondents from around the world. WOLF BLITZER REPORTS starts now.
BLITZER: It's Wednesday, October 15, 2003. Hello from Washington, I'm Wolf Blitzer reporting.
(BREAKING NEWS)
BLITZER: You're looking at a live picture of a breaking story we're following in New York City right now. Emergency workers are at the scene of a serious ferry accident. Officials say there are extensive injuries.
The Associated Press reporting some of the victims lost limbs in the accident. One end of the ferry suffered major damage as the boat was arriving on the Staten Island end of its run across New York Harbor. CNN Producer Rose Arce was just behind the damaged ferry on another boat as the accident happened. Rose is joining us on the phone now from her vantage point. Rose, tell us what you're seeing.
ROSE ARCE, CNN PRODUCER (via telephone): Wolf, I'm told that the Coast Guard has formed a 400-yard perimeter, a debris field they're calling it just behind where this boat hit the dock.
You can see in the water from where I am right now three very large Coast Guard boats and several small police boats and fire department boats in the water sort of scooting back and forth just in the water behind where the boat is.
The ferry boat that struck the pier is sitting kind of awkwardly at its berth with part of it sort of sticking out awkwardly to one side and there are huge waves, unusually large waves for this harbor that are hitting the side of the dock and hitting the boat. You can kind of see them tossing in the wind as they sit out there.
BLITZER: All right, Rose, hold on a second because CNN's Michael Okwu in our New York Bureau is getting some more developments on what precisely happened. Michael, tell us what you know.
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, we understand at this point according to the fire department that there are as many as five fatalities, again as many as five fatalities but the fire department also reporting that in addition to those possible five fatalities that there are, as you've been reporting, numerous injuries.
Now, again, this ferry is called the Andrew Barbieri. It's about 310 feet long. We understand it holds up to about 6,000 passengers, although at this time it is unclear how many passengers were actually on the ferry at the time of this incident.
We understand that Mayor Michael Bloomberg is on his way to the scene, about 150 members of the fire department treating some of the people down there and also trying to find out what might be going on on that ferry.
Of course, as Rose Arce was reporting the Coast Guard is also on the scene conducting a search and rescue mission and, in fact, securing an area of that 400 yards around that area security zone.
Now, for those people who do not understand the region very well, of course Staten Island is a major borough of New York City. What connects Manhattan to Staten Island is a body of water, New York Bay.
It's about 5.2 miles between the two areas and every single day ferries make a run between Manhattan and Staten Island. It is considered to be one of the most reliable ways to transport, clearly not the case today.
According to some New York City officials they say that they are still trying to look at what might have been the cause of this but they believe that the wind might have been an issue. At some point this afternoon at about three o'clock they measured about 31 miles up to 43 miles per hour at LaGuardia Airport. You can imagine on the open seas that the wind was just as rough - Wolf.
BLITZER: Well, let me get back to Rose. She's out there behind this ferry, Rose Arce our CNN producer. What about the wind? How much of a factor is it now and could this have been the cause of what happened, Rose?
ARCE: Well, Wolf, I can tell you that I was out on the outdoor observation deck of my ferry boat at the time of the crash. That's the same part of the boat that's now sticking out into the water into the debris field.
And I was (unintelligible) by tourists, school children, you know, and we were trying to take pictures because this is a very commonly traveled route by people who want to take pictures of the Statue of Liberty and downtown Manhattan.
And, it was very, very hard to keep your balance while standing up, in fact people were holding on to the sides of the boat. Several of the children went in very, very quickly. You know it was - literally it was so - the wind was so strong that if you stood there for a few minutes you would eventually get moved several feet to one side.
Also, the waves which are fairly common in this harbor usually are so high that you actually would get a little bit of splash and we're several feet above the water where we are.
BLITZER: Rose, under normal circumstances when do they shut down the ferry? How windy does it have to get? How big of a wave situation does there have to develop in order for the ferry service between Staten Island and Manhattan to shut down?
ARCE: I don't know what parameters they use, Wolf, but I can tell you there was no attempt to either slow down or close the ferries today. I watched that boat (unintelligible) ahead of us and, you know, there was no delay.
It left on time. Children got on. Workers got on. Tourists got on and it took right off as did ours despite the fact that you can, you know, the force of the wind is strong enough that the boat even docked sways and hits against the berth so there was certainly no attempt to stop either of these boats from taking off.
BLITZER: Michael, how are they dealing with the injured? Are they taking them by helicopter to local hospitals? Do you know anything, the extent, how many people have been injured? You're reporting at least five fatalities, five dead people as a result of this crash.
OKWU: We don't know numbers at this time, Wolf, but we do know that they've been transported to some of the area hospitals, particularly an area hospital on Staten Island. Don't know the specific numbers at this point but according to at least one eyewitness at the hospital in Staten Island there were "numerous people filing through the hallways of that hospital" and that they expect many more people to come in this afternoon.
And, again, we understand that at least one man lost his leg in this accident and the Associated Press going even further, saying some of the victims, plural now, victims lost their limbs as well - Wolf.
BLITZER: This is an unusual situation, Michael and Rose. Let me go to Michael first. Both of you have been living in New York City for a long time. How often are there these kinds of ferry accidents?
OKWU: Well, it's fairly unusual, Wolf. Actually, there was something of a freak accident a few years ago back in 1997. Apparently there was a car that was trying to get onto the ferry on the Staten Island side and there was an accident there. Some people were injured.
But this is a highly unusual and certainly an extraordinary thing. Certainly if the wind was a factor here you rarely hear about this kind of thing happening. Again, there are some 65,000 New Yorkers who use that ferry every single day. You can do the numbers on that. That means many, many more annually. It is considered again, Wolf, to be one of the safest ways to travel here in New York City so today a highly extraordinary day.
BLITZER: Rose, the Associated Press is quoting eyewitnesses as saying that several people, many people actually jumped for their lives, jumping from the ferry into the water of New York Bay. You're right behind this ferry. Did you see people in the water?
ARCE: Yes, Wolf, I didn't see people in the water but what I can tell you is this water is so rough that I can't imagine that anyone who jumped in the water would be visible for very long. I mean it's really just that rough and the current is that strong.
Also, I was talking to our ferry boat operator here. He says he's been working this ferry for 16 years. He cannot remember a single fatal accident and he can't remember the boats ever having stopped running because of the wind.
He says that occasionally some ferry boats that carry cars have stopped running because of the wind because they're balanced a little bit differently but he says that the passenger ferries are simply just so large, so heavy and so, you know, water strong as he called it that there's no reason to really stop even when the wind is this bad and even when the tide is so strong.
BLITZER: Michael, I take it that all ferry service between Manhattan and Staten Island has been suspended. This is the rush hour as we know after five o'clock in New York right now. What other alternative ways can people get between Manhattan and Staten Island with ferry service down?
OKWU: Well, Wolf, that's one of the things that New York City officials have to deal with at this point. There's really no real way to get there directly. One has to take a - you can ride on a bridge. You can drive basically.
There's a bridge that connects the lower part of Manhattan to other ports in New Jersey and then from New Jersey perhaps you can get into Staten Island. So, this is a way to get across there but most commuters do not have those emergency plans ready so it's just a very highly unusual thing to happen.
One other thing, Wolf, to mention, according to at least three eyewitnesses who have called in to some local affiliates of ours, after this accident occurred apparently there was no announcement made over the PA system as to what to do, so just adding to what Rose was saying about the confusion at that site.
And, of course, the Coast Guard is in the area possibly looking into whether or not there might have been travelers overboard. Now we haven't gotten that confirmed but clearly that's something that emergency rescue workers are taking a look at right now - Wolf.
BLITZER: And I just want to be very precise, Michael, on this point given that it's New York City. Is there any indication of foul play or does this look like only an accident this crash involving this ferry at this point knowing that all the information is very sketchy, preliminary coming in to us?
OKWU: Well, you're right to say that it's sketchy, Wolf, and certainly a little premature at this point. Investigators down at the scene right now trying to figure this out and, in fact, their most important concern right now is making sure that there's nobody in that water and, in fact, that there are other people on that boat who are hurt to try to get them medical attention as soon as possible.
New York City officials are not telling us what they think was responsible here but, clearly, there's a great deal of speculation about the weather, about the wind. I want to repeat again, Wolf, gusts up to about 43 miles per hour this afternoon at LaGuardia Airport.
A gale warning was in effect at the time so clearly these were not the best traveling situations but one has to imagine that the ferry has made it through on these waters in similar conditions - Wolf.
BLITZER: Rose, and give us an update now from your vantage point. You're out there in New York Bay. You're aboard another boat behind this ferry. How windy is it right now? What's the current situation? Have the winds died down a bit? I think we may have lost Rose Arce. We're going to try to reconnect with her.
Let me let Michael wrap this up and gather some more information. Six thousand people potentially, this ferry has a capacity of including 6,000 people. It's a huge ferry.
Rose Arce, if you're back with us, what are the conditions there right now in terms of the wind, the surf? Rose? Unfortunately, I don't think Rose can hear us right now.
Michael, do you want to try to handle that?
OKWU: I'm sorry, Wolf, what was your question?
BLITZER: This is a huge ferry. Potentially it has the capacity of 6,000 people. We see some pictures. We're looking at live pictures, taped pictures now from our affiliate WNYW. What are the conditions as far as we know right now? Has the wind died down a bit since this accident?
OKWU: That's unclear at this point, Wolf, whether the wind has died down. At this point it may be a bit of a moot point since the Coast Guard is encircling that area and they've essentially stopped any kind of traffic. So, if in fact the wind is as high as it was early this afternoon when it occurred, then the possibility of that happening would, of course, be not.
But, Wolf, it's important to also mention in addition to the fact that this ferry had a capacity of carrying about 6,000 people which is an extraordinary number of people on a ferry of course, this happened at about 3:45 this afternoon. One can only cross their fingers and hope that since this was not the very top of the rush hour that the ferry was not close to capacity - Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Michael Okwu thanks very much. We're going to be getting back to you throughout this hour. Rose Arce, we'll be getting back to her as well.
Once again for our viewers just tuning in a huge ferry slammed into a pier going from Staten Island into Manhattan, Michael Okwu reporting at least five fatalities. There could be more. Many people have been injured in what is clearly a bad, bad crash. We'll continue to follow this story.
We're also following the bombshells that occurred in Eagle, Colorado earlier today, day two of the preliminary hearing involving the sexual assault charge against Kobe Bryant. We'll tell you precisely what happened today and what's next that and much more coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
(BREAKING NEWS)
BLITZER: You're looking at this live picture, a ferry, a huge ferry potentially killing 6,000 people, we don't know how many aboard, slammed into a pier in New York from Staten Island at least five people killed, many others injured. We're following this breaking story for you. We'll get back to that shortly.
In the meantime, though, let's move on to some other important news we're covering today. Will Kobe Bryant go on trial on a felony sexual assault charge? It's now up to a Colorado judge to decide.
The NBA star's preliminary hearing is over and Bryant is heading home to southern California to await the judge's decision which won't come until Monday at the earliest.
Inside the courtroom, dramatic and controversial testimony as the judge decided to allow testimony about the accuser's sexual history. Our National Correspondent Gary Tuchman heard every word of it. He was inside the courthouse. He's joining us now live with details from Eagle - Gary.
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the preliminary hearing came to an end with both sides Kobe Bryant's attorneys and prosecutors, getting a chance to give closing arguments.
And, you're right, the judge today allowed some of the accuser's sexual history to come into play and today Pamela Mackey, Kobe Bryant's defense attorney said: "She, the 19-year-old accuser, is not worthy of your belief." She was saying this to the judge who has to decide if Kobe Bryant will go on trial. She also said this is an extremely thin case based almost entirely on hearsay.
Now what the defense is trying to show is that multiple and recent sexual encounters of this woman close to the time of the sexual encounter, which she says wasn't consensual with Kobe Bryant, led to the injuries she had.
According to a detective who took the stand today he acknowledged that this woman did have sex with another person three days before the un-consensual sex he says with Kobe Bryant but the prosecution says none of this is true.
The prosecution says that he held her by the back of her neck, referring to Kobe Bryant, with his hand and had sexual intercourse and they said, yes, she did not have bruises on her neck from Kobe Bryant choking her.
They said Kobe Bryant choked her but they said she had a bruise on her jaw because when Kobe Bryant put his left hand on her neck, his left thumb was on her jaw. Either way the prosecution says they have faith in the accuser.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARK HURLBERT, EAGLE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY: I am confident that the judge will find probable cause and will bind this case over and I am confident in the people's case versus Kobe Bryant.
DET. DOUG WINTERS, EAGLE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT: We have discussed this case amongst ourselves and also the D.A.'s office was onboard with us. I don't feel that there was a rush to judgment. We worked this case like we would any other type of sexual assault.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TUCHMAN: So, the judge left the courtroom in suspense. He said he will issue his decision perhaps Monday but definitely not this week, no earlier than Monday, Wolf back to you.
BLITZER: And there was this charge that the defense attorneys made that there was forensic evidence that could have exonerated Kobe Bryant that the prosecution forgot to mention to the judge or failed to mention to the judge.
TUCHMAN: Well, the main forensic evidence they talked about today was that the underwear that the 19-year-old wore to the hospital the day after this incident, the detective has acknowledged that there was semen and pubic hair that did not come from Kobe Bryant.
BLITZER: All right, it's going to get very, very graphic. It's going to get increasingly ugly presumably as we go down the road. Thanks very much for that Gary Tuchman for that report.
Let's get some more perspective now on these latest courtroom developments. For that we turn to Larry Pozner, he's a criminal defense attorney and Craig Silverman, a former Denver prosecutor. They're also joining us from outside the courthouse in Eagle. They were both inside during - they were both watching and listening to this dramatic development.
Craig, let me begin with you. Give us your impressions on the surprises, what we saw, what we didn't see. What stands out in your mind?
CRAIG SILVERMAN, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Well, I was shocked. It was a shocking display of prosecutorial weakness and ineptitude. You know the prosecutors fought like crazy when Pam Mackey said this woman had sex with three men in three days but it now appears that they had a factual for saying that, the defense did, this revelation about the unaccounted for sperm.
It appears clear that this young woman wanted some type of sexual encounter with Kobe Bryant. Perhaps it went to a point she did not desire but when she indicated that the detective testified Kobe Bryant stopped. Given that evidence it's hard to believe a Colorado jury will convict.
BLITZER: Well what about, Craig, the notion that the probable cause might not necessarily have been shown and the judge might simply throw it all out? Do you believe that the prosecutorial ineptness went that far?
SILVERMAN: No, I don't think so and here's why. The argument of team Kobe was that it was all hearsay. Well there is one bit on non hearsay. That was Kobe Bryant's statement to the police where he apparently denied any sexual activity. The judge has to take an inference from that, a bad inference for Kobe Bryant.
And just think about it, Wolf, this is the judge who said the accuser did not have to show up because they had enough evidence without her. It would be pretty strange for him to now say because the accuser didn't testify there's no probable cause.
BLITZER: Larry, you were listening and you were watching. Give us your sense of what you saw how big of a bombshell did we have today? LARRY POZNER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: We had a series of bombshells. Every time Pamela Mackey went into a new area it was an area that was devastating to the prosecution theory of the case.
What happened, Wolf, is that Pamela Mackey and the defense demonstrated over and over a series of actions lasting several hours in which the complaining witness clearly tried to be alone with Kobe Bryant.
She placed him in a room far down a hallway away from the guards. She went to see him using a circuitous route that was outside of the hotel. She even told the detectives she knew if she went in the room that something physical was likely to happen and she went in the room.
She says there was consensual kissing, consensual hugging, and then strangely enough she says that when she indicated she wanted him to stop he stopped. Given that evidence and the other bombshells that were dropped today it's very hard to see why the case has proceeded this far.
But remember, Wolf, under Colorado law probable cause is the lowest possible standard and the prosecutor makes that offer statement. Proving guilt beyond a reasonable doubt is the highest standard and there's real question whether they can make that.
BLITZER: Well, but you agree with Craig that it's almost certain that the judge will go forward with a trial on Monday when he makes his announcement?
SILVERMAN: The judge, I think, will order that there is probable cause. He is not saying I find the case strong. He's not even saying I find the witness credible. He is merely saying there exists some evidence when viewed in the light most favorable to the prosecution that justified the filing of charges. That's good enough to get past preliminary hearing but it's a far cry short of proof beyond a reasonable doubt.
BLITZER: Craig, what about the whole issue of the blood that was found on Kobe Bryant's shirt blood matching hers?
SILVERMAN: Right there's no question that during sexual intercourse she bled on him but the question now becomes was that an old injury that was re-aggravated by the sexual activity with Kobe Bryant? It could have been further aggravated.
Understand, Wolf, what the defense is suggesting is that this young woman might have had another sexual encounter between the time she left Kobe Bryant's room and the time she reported it to the sheriff's department. That's a bombshell.
BLITZER: One final question for you, Larry. The whole issue of the bellhop who presumably is going to be a witness for the prosecution is going to testify presumably she was distraught. He was so concerned he followed her home and she told him almost contemporaneously what she says happened. POZNER: Yes, Wolf, we had been led to believe that the bellhop was what's called the outcry witness that she encounters him and immediately tells him that she's been sexually assaulted.
But what Pam Mackey demonstrated today is that the first person she encountered was another co-worker, the night auditor, who asked her to continue doing work which the complaining witness did and that the night auditor will testify she saw absolutely no sign that this woman was in distress and the complaining witness voiced nothing about being attacked. All of that will hurt the prosecution case.
BLITZER: All right, we're going to have to leave it right there but we're not leaving this story. Larry Pozner, as usual, thanks very much. Craig Silverman, appreciate your eyewitness account of what happened inside, good to have both of you as our eyes and ears on this kind of sensitive story. You bring a lot of legal expertise to the issue. We'll get back to both of you. Thanks very much.
(BREAKING NEWS)
We're also following a very important breaking story in New York City. A ferry, a huge ferry, has slammed into a pier in Manhattan, a ferry coming from Staten Island. There could have been as many as 6,000 people onboard. We don't know how many people were onboard. We do know at least five people have been killed. Many others have been injured. We'll get an update from the Coast Guard. That's coming up.
Also, Americans under attack, a deadly blast in Gaza targets a convoy carrying American diplomats.
And it's flu season but are your kids getting them at the right age, that's flu shots we're talking about? We'll tell you what the government is now recommending. There's been a change.
And this:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's the (unintelligible) of the Cubs for 2003, you know.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER: The Cubs' curse and now the blame game. Is it the goat or is it this guy? Take a look. We're live from Wrigley Field.
But first today's News Quiz.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLITZER (voice-over): During another Major League championship series a similar case of fan involvement occurred. Which team benefited from that, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, the answer coming up?
(END VIDEO CLIP) BLITZER: Welcome back to our continuing coverage of this crash. A Staten Island ferry slammed into a pier in Manhattan. At least five people are reported dead. We have confirmed at least five dead, many others injured.
Let's get an update. Coast Guard Petty Officer Matthew Belson is joining us now on the phone.
Petty Officer, what can you tell us about the extent of dead and injured?
MATTHEW BELSON, U.S. COAST GUARD: Well, we're still getting reports in, Wolf. Don't have a definite figure yet of injured and dead.
I can tell you that the Coast Guard right now -- we've got three rescue boats on the scene that have established a 400-yard security zone. And we're working with the other response crews to, of course, search the waters, looking for any victims, but also letting the rescue crews from the FDNY do their jobs on the ferry.
BLITZER: What -- do you have a suspicion now, some indications what happened?
BELSON: Not at this time, Wolf. Again, it's -- with any marine casualty investigation, as it's called, we have Coast Guard investigators on the scene right now. And their job is going to be to determine what caused this accident, and, of course, you know, to learn from it and prevent it from happening in the future.
BLITZER: We had heard that conditions were pretty bad. Wind was pretty intense. The waves were very high, the surf. Is that something you're looking at right now?
BELSON: It certainly would be one of the things. And, you know -- and with any kind of investigation, you want to look at all the possibilities. So, weather and the currents and, you know, perhaps the sun or traffic out on the water. But, again, we're -- it's too early to speculate, and, you know, an investigation unfortunately can sometimes take weeks and months. But the main goal of any marine investigation is to find out what happened and learn from it and prevent it from happening again.
BLITZER: We had heard reports that there were eyewitnesses -- eyewitness accounts saying they saw people jumping overboard, presumably to try to save their lives. Do you have any indications that there are people over -- out there, and that -- if you have divers and boats in the area looking for individuals?
BELSON: Well, again, it's -- it's -- you know, this is -- this is a truly a tragic accident. And right now, we've got, you know, a full multi-agency response, rescue. Agencies out there that work in New York Harbor and the Coast Guard is working closely with all of them. So we have boats our on the water, we've got helicopters that are looking around to make sure if anyone was, you know, in the water, that we'd be able to pick them up. BLITZER: All right. We'll be checking back with you, Coast Guard Petty Officer Michael Belson. Thanks very much.
Let's go to Michael Fagen now. He's with the St. Vincent's Catholic's Medical Center in New York City. He's joining us on the phone.
Michael, what can you tell us about the extent of injuries from your vantage point?
MICHAEL FAGEN, ST. VINCENT'S CATHOLIC MED. CTR.: What we're seeing right now is we've gotten in about 10 patients, some with massive trauma and others of them hypothermia. That would be some of the victims that had either fallen into the water or jumped into the water, as we just heard in the previous report.
BLITZER: The -- are these life-threatening injuries, based on what you can tell or will these people survive?
FAGEN: Some of them -- the people with massive trauma would be in critical condition and, you know, therefore it would be -- you know, it would difficult to say at this point what their prognosis would be.
BLITZER: Ten people -- is it -- that's at your hospital. Are you getting indications there are many others injured who have been taken to other local hospitals?
FAGEN: We are a level 1 trauma center on Staten Island. And there is another hospital here as well. We are anticipating more patients will -- will continue to be brought to us as the evening continues.
BLITZER: So you're the destination of choice in these kinds of situations in Staten Island?
FAGEN: Well, we would be one of two destinations of choice, yes, that's correct. But with -- you know, with the level 1 trauma center, we have all of the major specialties available to deal with these kinds of emergency situations.
BLITZER: Have you gotten any indication from -- have any of these patients been able to communicate with you or your staff and said what they believed might have happened?
FAGEN: I --you know, I haven't gotten reports to that effect. All I'm hearing is what, you know, is being broadcast is that we have had very high winds in New York City today that may have contributed to this.
BLITZER: Michael Fagen, thanks very much for that. Good luck to all of the people. Our prayers are with them at the St. Vincent's Catholic Medical Center in Staten Island.
CNN's Jason Carroll is now on the scene as well.
Jason, you're on the phone. Tell us what you're seeing, what you're hearing.
JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, well, I can tell you first what I'm seeing, which is a number of emergency (UNINTELLIGIBLE) rescue boats out in the water there. (UNINTELLIGIBLE) about 3:20, the boat was headed in on the normal routine, just like every other...
BLITZER: Jason, I'm going to interrupt because your line is breaking up. We're going to try to get a better connection. CNN's Jason Carroll is on the scene.
CNN's Michael Okwu is also covering this story for us. He's in our New York bureau gathering more information. Michael, what have you learned?
MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the number at this point as far as the fire department is concerned -- still as many as five fatalities at this point. Fire department still reporting that there are numerous injuries down at the scene, as the Coast Guard, as you just heard from, conducting a search and rescue mission around the area. And it was interesting to hear from the local trauma unit there, the hospital there, saying that they are treating patients for hypothermia. So clearly those reports about some of the victims falling, jumping down into the sea were, in fact, accurate.
And we also understand from New York City officials that ferry service has stopped, of course, between Manhattan and Staten Island at this point. And those boats that were in the water, the ships that were in the water at the point of this accident, were turned around and returned back to Manhattan.
And again, 65,000 people take this ferry everyday. We are now at the heart of rush hour. So there are going to be a lot of stranded people on Manhattan. New York City officials are going to be having to deal with that in the coming moments -- Wolf.
BLITZER: And just to be precise, this ferry slammed into the pier, into the dock on -- in -- on Staten Island. It was coming from Manhattan. I just want to make sure our viewers are clear on that. I may have misspoken earlier. Michael Okwu, stand by.
Jason Carroll -- we've got reporters covering this story from every angle. We're going to have much more on this -- what happened on this ferry as it came into Staten Island. We'll continue to follow that story.
We're also following the bomb shells that occurred in that courtroom in Eagle, Colorado earlier today, the Kobe Bryant sexual assault preliminary hearing. It's over with. We're standing by. The judge expected to make an announcement perhaps as early as Monday -- Monday on whether to go forward with the trial.
Much more news. That's coming up.
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BLITZER: More now on our story involving Kobe Bryant. The preliminary hearing, day two that hearing is now over. His lawyer, Pamela Mackey, stole the spotlight inside the courtroom with tactics some call brilliant and others scandalous.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER (voice-over): Pamela Mackey's reputation may depend on the day or whatever hearing we've just been through. Is she the attorney who's just doing her job, whose team today claimed to have forensic evidence pointed to someone other than Kobe Bryant, possibly causing the accuser's injuries? Or is she the person accused of misrepresenting evidence in order to publicly smear the alleged victim?
Which lawyer is the real Pamela Mackey? The one who used the accuser's name six times in court last week or the one who never mentioned the name today. Not much gray area when lawyers discuss the performance of Kobe's lead attorney.
PAMELA HAYES, ATTORNEY: I think she did it knowing what she had to do.
WENDY MURPHY, FORMER PROSECUTOR: We don't want people to be harmed through their participation in the criminal justice system.
BLITZER: So which reputation sticks?
Former prosecutor Karen Stinehauser (ph), who often went against Pamela Mackey when Mackey was a public defender in Denver, told us Mackey is a worthy adversary. Known as quote, "the ultimate professional and ethical defense attorney." The prosecutor has never known her to knowingly violate a court order and says, Mackey's firm, Hadden, Morgan and Former (ph) has an excellent reputation in Colorado.
The 47-year-old has spent most of her professional life at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. And has taken on at least one other high profile case involving an athlete. Mackey represented former Colorado Avalanche goalie Patrick Wah (ph) in a case. Charges were dismissed.
PAMELA MACKEY, KOBE BRYANT'S LAWYER: Kobe Bryant is innocent in the charges filed against him today.
BLITZER: She's had a firm grasp on the management of Bryant's defense from the start. But last week, when she cross-examined the detective and asked if the accuser's injuries were quote, "consistent with someone who had sex with three different men in three days," it seemed everyone had a strong opinion.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was nothing but contemptible, disgusting and it was sleazy.
DAVID LUGERT, COLORADO DEFENSE ATTORNEY: She's sending a message to the public that she will zealously represent her client.
BLITZER: She has also clearly shown an ability to change tactics, like no longer referring to the accuser by name. JEFFREY TOOBIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: I think Pamela Mackey, quite appropriately, felt a little ashamed of her behavior last week and in fairness to her, she corrected it.
BLITZER: But also in fairness, the former prosecutor pointed out it was Pamela Mackey who previously tried to get these hearings closed to the media, knowing what was coming.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
BLITZER: And joining us now to talk about the legal maneuvers in the Kobe Bryant case is the former Colorado prosecutor Michael Steinberg. Michael, thanks very much. First of all, Pamela Mackey's tactics during these two days of this preliminary hearing, how would you assess them?
MICHAEL STEINBERG, FORMER PROSECUTOR: I think she's a true professional. I know Pam. I've worked on a case with her, a fairly high profile case with her that did not garner as much attention as this case but did garner significant attention. She is the consummate professional.
I believe she put up today what she said she was going to put up on Friday. And that is, she supported the question that was the alleged bombshell on Friday regarding the forensic evidence that would help to acquit Kobe Bryant.
I don't believe we heard a lot of that evidence today. I believe a lot of that was heard in chambers. But we did hear some. It was significant and powerful evidence, attacking the credibility of the victim.
BLITZER: There was a lot of speculation going into this preliminary hearing that the young prosecutor who's handling the case may be way over his head in dealing with someone like Pamela Mackey, the high powered defense attorneys that Kobe Bryant has retained. Based on these two days, based on what we know right now, what's your opinion?
STEINBERG: I won't say Mark is over his head. I believe he's an excellent prosecutor. But this kind of defense, the kind of attention the case is getting, the resources that Kobe can bring to bare on a very small rural district attorney's office, a very small rural police department is enormous. This isn't L.A., this is Eagle County, Colorado. You have to understand that Mark is looking at the kind of scrutiny that he perhaps has never been through before.
I look at this case as a submarine sinking to the bottom of the ocean. Every hundred feet the pressure increases, every weakness, every opportunity to exploit weaknesses in the district attorney's case will be exploited. We have just seen a touch of what we can expect in trial. And I do believe this case will be bound over on Monday and will go to trial.
BLITZER: Even her ability to poke some holes into it were impressive? STEINBERG: They were impressive. I believe the district attorney was shot back and has to regroup. He talked about a sanitized version, that this is just a screening device. Those are accurate. We heard 90 percent or more of their case in the preliminary hearing. It is an a abbreviated version, perhaps. Live testimony will take place at trial. But the truth of the matter is the district attorney's case is less than overwhelming. I believe Kobe Bryant is about to mount a very serious, very powerful defense and prosecutors should beware.
BLITZER: All right. Thanks for that assessment, Michael Steinberg.
We will get back to our sop story when we come back from this break. That Staten Island Ferry crash, as it came into a harbor, it came into a pier on Staten Island from Manhattan. We're awaiting word to New York City's mayor, Michael Bloomberg. He's on his way there. We expect to get that fairly soon. Stay with us.
CARROLL: And I'm Jason Carroll, live at the scene of the ferry accident in Stanton Island, where at least five people are confirmed dead. We're awaiting a press conference. I'll have a live update coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
BLITZER: This is a bad picture of a police cruiser apparently just crashed into some sort of van, multiple injuries in the Los Angeles area in North Ridge. We're getting these live pictures from our affiliate. We'll follow this story as well. Bad accidents happening on both sides of the country. This one in Los Angeles, another one, of course, in New York City Staten Island, to be precise. The Staten island ferry, at least one of them slamming to a pier as it approached Staten Island. CNN's Jason Carroll is on the scene for us. Jason, tell us what you're seeing and hearing right now.
CARROLL: Right now, we are here at the St. George Ferry Terminal. You can take a look behind me down in the pit area. That's where all the emergency crews, the firefighters, the police officers have been gathered for quite some time now. We have been out here at least 30, 40 minutes or so. That is where most of the activity is centered on at this point.
Earlier, you heard reports about rescue some boats out in the harbor there. We have seen some activity in the harbor. Not like what you're seeing down there.
To recap what happened, it was at 3:20 this afternoon when this ferry was making its way across the harbor. And by all accounts, ran into trouble when it attempted to dock. That is where many of the people are saying they heard some sort of loud grinding sound, as it came into the docking area.
Still trying to confirm exactly what the cause of this accident was. But at this point, we can tell you, at least five people dead. Fire department saying many more injuries, severe injuries, such as amputees, lacerations, massive amounts of trauma. We are also being told as we were down here, a number of people are still unaccounted for. A number of people on that ferry still unaccounted for at this point. Right now, we are waiting for a press conference from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as the police commissioner. They are expected to give us the most updated information, in terms of exactly what caused this accident. They're expected to update us in terms numbers. Because we're hearing more reports about injuries and fatalities -- Wolf.
BLITZER: CNN's Jason Carroll on the scene for us. We'll get back to you, Jason. Thanks very much.
Let's check a few other important news items that happened today.
A life and death decision has been carried out in Florida. Just a short time ago, the feeding tube was removed from a woman who's been in a coma-like state since 1990. And now, her death could be just days away. Terry Schaivo has been at the center of a long legal battle between her husband, who wanted the tube removed and her parents who fought the decision. The parents say they're still hoping Florida Governor Jeb Bush will intervene in the case and order the tube to be reinserted. We'll follow that for you.
Babies and toddlers in daycare centers around the United States may soon be required to get flu shots. An advisory panel at the Center For Disease Control and Prevention, has recommended this afternoon that children between six and 23 months get flu shots. If approved the recommendations will go into effect a year from now.
In the Middle East, there was a new target in Gaza today as a roadside bomb ripped through convoy carrying U.S. diplomats? Three American security guards were killed. Another seriously wounded. The diplomats were headed to interviews with Palestinian students seeking scholarships here in the United States. There has been no claim of responsibility. But President Bush is blaming the Palestinian Authority saying, I'm quoting, they should have acted long ago to fight terror.
Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat signaled a possible crackdown by reappointing a police command with a law and order reputation. The FBI is sending a team of experts to investigate the attack.
Now, another major story we're following. Is the ambush of Americans the final nail in the coffin of U.S. peace efforts. Actually that's the story involving the attack in Gaza today. Does the United States have any choice but to carry on. Let's get some assessment. Now the former U.S. ambassador Edward Djerejian served in Israel and Syria, was a key player in many early stages of the peace process. He now heads the Baker Institute at the Rice University in Texas. Ambassador thanks very much for joining us.
It looks like Americans now are formally being targeted by terrorists in Gaza, in this crisis. Israelis, of course, have been targeted for a long time.
What's your assessment of what we saw today? EDWARD DJEREJIAN, FORMER U.S. AMBASSADOR TO ISRAEL: This is a very dangerous deterioration in the whole situation in the Middle East. It is a -- another attempt by the extremists and terrorists to destabilize the region, to not allow peace to have a chance. It is an effort to destroy the efforts, bringing the Israelis and the Palestinians together. It does require the Palestinian Authority to finally -- to finally get its political act in order, get a prime minister who can take action and a minister of interior who can really get control of the Palestinian Security Authorities in order to prevent these types of incidents and to really begin to dismantle the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad Militants
BLITZER: Mr. Ambassador, when you were the U.S. ambassador in Tel Aviv, you used to drive down to Gaza all the time. You had a convoy presumably you had security guards. This looks like a pretty sophisticated operation, this remotely triggered device going after an armored car, armored SUV. Does this mean U.S. diplomats, unless they get assurances from Palestinian personnel should avoid going to Gaza?
DJEREJIAN: I don't think we can avoid maintaining our involvement in Gaza and the West Bank, Wolf. We simply play too critical and important a role. Obviously, as you mentioned, is that deliberate targeting of American diplomats and security personnel personnel. It's a definite attempt to get at the American position in the Arab/Israel equation. We don't have any choice. There are two things here. Not only the security measures that have to be put in place as you mentioned, but it's also question of giving both the Palestinians and Israelis the political context in which they can gravitate, make the hard decisions to get to a political solution. As you well know, there simply is no military solution to this Arab/Israel conflict.
BLITZER: Mr. Ambassador, unfortunately we have to leave it there. We will continue this conversation on many other occasions. Unfortunately, because the situation is so bad. Thanks very much for that immediate assessment, Ambassador Edward Djerejian of the Baker Institute at the Rice University in Texas.
I want to go back to CNN's Michael Okwu in New York City. He has new developments on the ferry crash in New York. Michael, tell us what you learned.
OKWU: Wolf, the U.S. Coast Guard in Washington D.C. telling CNN the master of the vessel involved here went home and committed suicide. Now, it's unclear whether he expressed anything to his family or in a note or anything of that matter, but again, the U.S. Coast Guard, out of Washington D.C., telling us that the master of the vessel involved here, the Andrew Barberi, which crashed on the dock in Staten Island this afternoon a little after 3:20, went home after the accident and committed suicide.
BLITZER: This is a shocking, shocking development indeed, Michael, which raises so many questions. And obviously you and I don't have the answers to, but presumably we'll be getting more information in the hours to come.
What do we know right now about the extent of killed, deaths and injuries?
OKWU: We know at this point, according to the fire department in New York City, that as many as five fatalities here, they say there are numerous injuries. We understand now that there are, at least 10 patients at an area hospital in Staten Island that are being treated. Some of them suffering from hypothermia, others involved in massive trauma. And again, according to the spokesman at that hospital, some of those victims are in critical condition. Again, Wolf, this is a vessel that had the capacity to carry as many as 6,000 people. We are told that during rush hour, it usually carried about half that number. It is unclear at this point how many people were on the vessel at the time of this accident, but clearly, the coast guard is on the scene, a fire department is on the scene. We're expecting to hear from Mayor Michael Bloomberg as well as some officials with the Office of Emergency Management later this afternoon -- Wolf.
BLITZER: Michael, I want to recap for our viewers who may just be tuning in. What Michael Okwu is reporting, the master of the vessel involved in this accident went home and committed suicide, that according to a spokesperson for the U.S. Coast Guard. A shocking development suggesting perhaps the master is taking personal responsibility for this crash.
CNN's Rose Arce, one of our producers happened to be near this crash on another boat. She is joining us on the phone from Staten Island. Rose, tell us what you are see, what you're hearing?
ROSE ARCE, CNN PRODUCER: Actually, our boat has now turned around as has all the other boats on the water. They were heading to Staten Island -- and come back to the Manhattan Ferry Terminal. They told us that service is now closed. That people are going to have to take buses home. I have to say the passengers on my ferry very upset upon hearing there had actually been fatalities. Most of the people on my boat, as I think you can presume from the other boat, given the time of day, were heading over to Staten Island, some just for the view. It's commonly used as way of seeing the Staten Island, Statue of liberty, Ellis Island, all things the ferry passes by. So, we had all crowded on the exterior observation deck, just as the people on the ferry in front of us had, to take pictures and were being buffeted by the wind. So, several people on my boat feeling like they had a bit of a near miss here since they had also been standing outside.
BLITZER: Rose, you may have not heard Michael Okwu's report. A coast guard spokesman telling CNN that the master of the vessel went home after the accident and committed suicide. Who operates these ferries, Rose, that go between Staten Island and Manhattan.
ARCE: Well, I can tell you that the crew on my boat -- these are operated by the city. Many of the men that I spoke to that operate our boat have been working here 15-20 years operating these vessels. On my boat they were also very, very upset to hear there had been an accident. One man telling me in his 16 years as an boat operator, he has never seen an accident of this magnitude. Very small things perhaps, but never something where people had been injured. He said they take great care with this vessels since they are commuter vessels and they full tourist, children sometimes -- you know, very upset. BLITZER: Understandably so. Rose Arce, our producer on the scene for us. Michael Okwu, reporting important information on this story as well. CNN of course will stay with this story through out the night.
"LOU DOBBS TONIGHT" starts right now.
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