Seastreak Ferry Out Of Highlands Crashes at Pier 11
Seastreak Manager Jack Bevins told MMM that the ferry that crashed into Pier 11 in Manhattan at 8:45 this morning was out of Highlands, not Atlantic Highlands as has been reported by multiple media sources.
News12 is reporting that 30-50 people have been injured, one critically.
The Star Ledger is reporting that there were 326 commuters and 5 crew members on the boat.
Seastreak issued a statement acknowledging the accident and pledging to work closely with Federal, State and local authorities to determine its cause. They said their thoughts and prayers are with the injured.
Donovan Mannato of Rumson was on the top deck of the ferry when the crash occurred.
“As we were approaching the pier I was packing up my Ipad and closing the seat tray when I felt and severe impact,” Mannato said, “my head hit on the tray in front of me and I saw a gentleman who was standing fly several feet and land on the ground where he laid for quite sometime. There were two glass doors cracked but still in their frames. It was obvious that people had hit those windows.
“When I got up to get off the boat I saw a man severely injured with people surrounding him at the bottom of the stairs. When I finally got downstairs, there were many people bleeding and with head injuries being tended to by passengers who were not injured.”
Mannato said he has a shiner under his eye and a stiff neck. He has not yet received medical attention. He is concerned for the recovery of those more seriously injured.
Seastreak has cancelled the 5:55 departure from E 35th Street and the 6:10 departure from Pier 11.
Best get Plugs here to start a commission on banning assault ferries……………
Long Branch Mayor Adam Schneider, along with the members of the Long Branch City Council and the city business administrator Howard Woolley, still want $100+ million dollars from tax payers to build an ocean pier and provide ferry service even though Sandy, or a smaller more common storm, would wreck the pier and ocean ferry docking is much more dangerous than docking a ferry in the river.