Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Live At Daybreak

Deadly Ferry Crash

Aired October 16, 2003 - 05:01   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.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Staten Island ferry commuters were almost home when the unthinkable happened. Now, investigators are trying to find out what caused the deadly crash. And the man who may have the answers tried to kill himself.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The ferry was sliced open as it tried to dock, a concrete pier tearing a gash through a third of the boat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looked like a giant can opener came and opened up the boat.

FEYERICK: Commuters heading home from Manhattan say it was pandemonium.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People started to turn and run. And somebody shouted, "Run!" So everybody ran toward the back of the boat, started pulling out life preservers, life vests.

FEYERICK: Ten people were killed, some pinned beneath the twisted wreckage. Three dozen people were hurt and taken to nearby hospitals.

JIM MCMAHON, ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL: There was one partial amputation in the emergency room and I believe there was a full amputation.

FEYERICK: As the ferry boat docked, law enforcement sources say the ferry captain ran. Police found him at home. A neighbor says an ambulance took him away on a stretcher. Sources tell CNN he had attempted suicide. Hospital officials say he's in critical condition.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The boat was going too fast, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he was trying to go into the dock and then the back swung, probably from the wind or something, and it hit the back and it just, the water or something went straight through the windows.

FEYERICK: It was a very windy day. Officials believe high gusts and choppy water may have contributed to the accident. MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: It's a terrible tragedy. People who were on their way home all of a sudden taken from us. Our prayers are for their families and for those who were injured.

FEYERICK (on camera): The captain and crew are being given drug and alcohol tests. Meantime, the NTSB is taking over the investigation.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Staten Island, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

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 16, 2003 - 05:01   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Staten Island ferry commuters were almost home when the unthinkable happened. Now, investigators are trying to find out what caused the deadly crash. And the man who may have the answers tried to kill himself.
CNN's Deborah Feyerick reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The ferry was sliced open as it tried to dock, a concrete pier tearing a gash through a third of the boat.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It looked like a giant can opener came and opened up the boat.

FEYERICK: Commuters heading home from Manhattan say it was pandemonium.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: People started to turn and run. And somebody shouted, "Run!" So everybody ran toward the back of the boat, started pulling out life preservers, life vests.

FEYERICK: Ten people were killed, some pinned beneath the twisted wreckage. Three dozen people were hurt and taken to nearby hospitals.

JIM MCMAHON, ST. VINCENT'S HOSPITAL: There was one partial amputation in the emergency room and I believe there was a full amputation.

FEYERICK: As the ferry boat docked, law enforcement sources say the ferry captain ran. Police found him at home. A neighbor says an ambulance took him away on a stretcher. Sources tell CNN he had attempted suicide. Hospital officials say he's in critical condition.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The boat was going too fast, right?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And he was trying to go into the dock and then the back swung, probably from the wind or something, and it hit the back and it just, the water or something went straight through the windows.

FEYERICK: It was a very windy day. Officials believe high gusts and choppy water may have contributed to the accident. MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG, NEW YORK: It's a terrible tragedy. People who were on their way home all of a sudden taken from us. Our prayers are for their families and for those who were injured.

FEYERICK (on camera): The captain and crew are being given drug and alcohol tests. Meantime, the NTSB is taking over the investigation.

Deborah Feyerick, CNN, Staten Island, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com