Victims of boat that smashed into Brooklyn Bridge identified as initial report suggests what caused it
A Mexican Navy training ship collided with the Brooklyn Bridge leaving over 20 injured and two dead.
On Saturday night (May 17), a Mexican Navy training ship with 277 people onboard crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge in New York.
Officials report the ship - called Cuauhtémoc - was taking part in a global goodwill tour and was on the way to Iceland when its 147 foot masts collided with the bridge as it tried to pass underneath.
Twenty-two people were reported injured, according to the Mexican Navy. Two people remained in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon, the New York Police Department reports. And two people lost their lives.
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Authorities have since named the two people who passed away as a result of the collision as América Yamilet Sánchez and Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos.
Multiple authorities have since detailed what they believe caused the ship to collide with the bridge.
The victims of the Mexican Navy ship's Brooklyn Bridge collision
The first victim of the crash was identified by Governor of Veracruz Mexico, Rocío Nahle, as 21-year-old naval cadet América Yamilet Sánchez from Xalapa, Veracruz.
The post to Twitter continued: "All my affection, support, and solidarity to her family. My recognition to the @SEMAR_mx and my wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured."
The local city council of San Mateo del Mar, in Oaxaca, Mexico, identified the second victim as Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos in a post to Facebook.
Family and friends of Sánchez gathered on Sunday to commemorate her.
A loved one of the young cadet, Gael de la Cruz, has spoken out questioning what happened to lead the ship to collide with the bridge.
She told Reuters: "It’s impossible for something so serious to not be thoroughly investigated. What happened there is illogical. There must be someone responsible."
Indeed, an investigation into the crash was immediately launched and authorities have since spoken out about what caused the ship to crash.
Theories into what prompted collision between the Mexican Navy ship and Brooklyn Bridge
When President of Mexico Claudia Sheinbaum addressed the crash to reporters on Sunday, she referred to the crash as an 'accident'.
She added: "We are deeply saddened by the loss of two crew members of the Cuauhtémoc Training Ship, who lost their lives in the unfortunate accident in New York Harbor. Our sympathy and support go out to their families."
NYPD Special Operations Chief Wilson Aramboles, told reporters he believes there 'was some mechanical issue'.
He said, as reported by Reuters: "It was the pilot that is assigned to navigate, you know, the boat out of the water. I believe he lost - and there was some mechanical issues that probably caused the ship to to hit the water."
A spokesperson for the city's Office of Emergency Management said in a statement the ship was headed in the wrong direction and not meant to sail under the bridge.
Marine experts have since stated it was the tide and water conditions which led to the crash, ABC notes.
Ultimately, multiple investigations into figuring out exactly what happened remain underway.
Latest updates to the investigation into the Mexican navy ship and Brooklyn Bridge crash
Earlier today (May 19), the National Transportation Safety Board updated in a post to Twitter a team is 'assembling in New York City to conduct a safety investigation into the Mexican Navy training ship, Cuauhtémoc, striking the Brookyln Bridge on Saturday'.
It explained: "The multidisciplinary investigative team is comprised of experts in nautical operations, marine and bridge engineering and survival factors."
A press briefing is expected to be held tomorrow (May 20) with NTSB Member Michael Graham at the Sheraton Brooklyn New York Hotel at 3pm.
Mexico's Navy is also investigating the crash, Mexican Navy Secretary Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles stating in a post to Twitter the day prior investigations will be 'promptly followed up with total transparency and responsibility'.
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Poppy Bilderbeck