Staten Island ferry passengers hurt as boat strikes pier; most injuries minor, authorities say

Staten Island ferry hits dock, injuring dozens

NEW YORK — At least one person was seriously hurt and as many as 35 suffered minor injuries when a Staten Island ferry boat with a history of accidents struck a pier at a terminal on Saturday.

The wreck happened at around 9:20 a.m. as the Andrew J. Barberi approached the St. George Ferry Terminal on Staten Island.

Passenger Jason Watler, 30, of St. George, said he realized the ferry was moving faster than usual as it approached the shore, became alarmed and began to run toward the back of the boat.

“It was not slowing down,” he said. “He was going too fast.”

Then, he heard a “a real big boom.”

“I stumbled a little bit,” he said. “People were screaming. People were crying.”

Fire Department officials said some passengers were being taken by ambulance to hospitals. Others were being bandaged and comforted by firefighters at the scene.

City officials were still struggling to gather information on the crash more than 90 minutes after it happened. They said there were unsure how much damage was done to the boat, which was still afloat.

Service on the ferry line was suspended after the accident, then restored by late morning.

The Andrew Barberi was also involved in a 2003 wreck that killed 11 people. That accident also occurred at the St. George Terminal, when the boat failed to slow down and hit the pier at full speed.

The ferry runs across New York harbor between Manhattan and Staten Island.