50 injured as New York commuter ferry crashes into dock

At least 50 people were injured, two critically, when a commuter ferry struck a dock in New York’s financial district during this morning’s rush hour.

A corner of the ferry was ripped open, and passengers said people fell on each other, screaming and crying. Passengers aboard the Seastreak Wall Street ferry said scores of people who had been waiting to disembark were hurled to the deck by the impact.

“We were pulling into the dock. The boat hit the dock. We just tumbled on top of each other. I got thrown into everybody else… People were hysterical,” said Ellen Foran, a passenger. Firefighters were still carrying people away on stretchers an hour later.

More than 340 passengers and crew were aboard the ferry from New Jersey, one of many that carry commuters to Manhattan.

Dee Wertz was on shore waiting for the ferry and saw the collision. She said a ferry worker had told her only moments earlier that the boat’s captains had been complaining lately about its manoeuvrability.

“He was telling me that none of these guys like this boat,” Ms Wertz said. “It was coming in a little wobbly. It hit the right side of the boat on the dock hard, like a bomb.”

After the impact, the boat was able to dock normally. Ms Wertz said passengers raced off once the ramp came down. “I think people just wanted to get the heck off the boat as soon as they could,” she said.