MSNBC Breaking: Staten Island Ferry Crash

[JM]

On MSNBC TV

http://www.wnbc.com/traffic/2556761/detail.html

JM

[THUNDER HANDS]

1. crash into what?

[Cooley Hurd]

2. crashed into pier on staten island side...

...as per Lester on MSNBC.

[JM]

3. Unconfirmed...

...the ferry crashed into the pier on the Staten Island side. Possible fatalities.

Later,
JM

[NewYorkerfromMass]

4. They "crash" into the piers all the time

this was just a harder hit than normal obviously.

[Newsjock]

5. Link to (short) story here

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_101503_ferryax.html

... City officials said there were reports of many injuries.

I assume this story will be updated.

[tjdee]

6. Every time I think of going into the city this happens, lately.

Man.

Hasn't NYC had its share now, for a few years?

[TreasonousBastard]

7. They do that once in a while.

On the approach, they shut the engine down, then reverse it to slow down as they slide into the "pocket." Hitting the bulkheads is what actually stops the thing. It's not like steering a sportscar-- the pilot "takes aim" more than anything else.

With some really heavy winds, and nasty currents, the ferry might not make it properly into the landing, and by the time the pilot realizes it-- it's too late.

Pilots are, of course, trained to take all of that sort of thing into account and it's rare that such an accident is entirely unavoidable.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

18. Yep. Bad pilot here IMO

I have ridden the ferry in all manner of weather and this guy fucked up big time. Ive ridden out some bad "bounces" but this sounds absurdly negligent on the pilot's part.
Also, it's called a "slip".

I just checked the weather here- 18 MPH winds and gusts to 33 would be pretty hard but nothing unusual for a pilot.

[Cooley Hurd]

8. "many injuries, smoke, screams..."

...as per MSNBC.

[undergroundrailroad]

9. MORE:

At Least 1 Dead in S.I. Ferry Crash



NYNewsday.com

October 15, 2003, 4:10 PM EDT

At least one person was killed and several passengers were injured this afternoon when a Staten Island-bound ferry slammed into the dock in the St. George terminal.

Rescuers have pulled one person from the water and are working to assist others. City officials said there were reports of many injuries.

The Department of Transportation confirmed the accident, but could provide nothing further. Ferry service has been suspended.

[undergroundrailroad]

10. 2 Killed, At Least 10 Injured, FROM WABC 4:20PM

In Ferry Crash.

I'm typing this raw data as I am hearing it.

UGRR

[undergroundrailroad]

13. WNBC -- Passengers "people still in the water" 4:24PM

"Chaos"
Trying to get more rescue workers.
Wind Related

This is raw information that I'm typing from WNBC.

[Cooley Hurd]

11. watching video from NY1... youch!!

It ripped into the lower level of the boat, and tore out a huge chunk of the side. 2 fatalaties, confirmed...

[soleft]

12. I heard all the Staten Island Firemen were in the city for bio drills

They had to get firemen and cops from Queens to come to the rescue. That's the buzz around the office anyway.

[undergroundrailroad]

14. Confirming soleft's report:

Terrorism Drill Tests Vaccination Of Emergency Workers
OCTOBER 15TH, 2003

A drill on Staten Island Wednesday is testing how quickly the city’s emergency workers can be vaccinated in the event of a biological terrorist attack.

Every firefighter and paramedic in the borough is receiving a shot – a flu vaccine as a substitute – while backup units, including ones from Brooklyn and Queens, are rotated in to maintain full staffing.

If smallpox, anthrax or other pathogen were released in an attack in the city, emergency workers would be quickly vaccinated to prevent them from getting sick and to stop disease from spreading. Anthrax and smallpox vaccines are effective up to four days after initial exposure, according to medical experts.

“We're testing every aspect of what we would have to do if we had an outbreak of something like smallpox,” said Fire Commissioner Nicholas Scoppetta. “Of course you know that we're giving flu vaccines, so that we actually go through the vaccination process. But the point here is to be able to have a point of distribution where we can administer a vaccine in such a way that we don't reduce fire and EMS protection throughout the island.”

The drill at Sea View Hospital will continue until midnight, with a total of 700 so-called first responders receiving the inoculation.

Officials believe every emergency worker in the city could be vaccinated within 24 to 48 hours, if necessary.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
link

[truthisfreedom]

15. ack, bad timing. ouch.

n/m

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. So they are too busy pretending that there is an emergency

To go to a real emergency?

[Rose Siding]

16. Some "have lost their limbs"

Woodruff- cnn

[undergroundrailroad]

19. Unconfirmed 14 "or more" Dead - 4:47PM WCBC

Due to heavy winds

Update: from 10 to 12 to 14 "or more" reported dead. WABC 5:00PM EST

[Cooley Hurd]

20. images...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

27. The boat had to have hit something other than the 'ferry slip'

to make that gash down the side. Geezum people were probably decapitated. That whole row of windows on the lower deck is gone.

[booksenkatz]

28. It helps us rubes from Texas

to know what it should look like, for comparison's sake:

[NewYorkerfromMass]

39. that's an older ferry from the 60's

the one that hit today was from the 70's.

[MnFats]

21. abc radio: 'at least a dozen dead.'

oh, help. we don;t need this.

[Cooley Hurd]

22. AP also says 12 dead... FDNY says 14 dead...

...no link yet. Heard that from NY1...

Update from: http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/news/wabc_101503_ferryax.html#

14 Dead in Staten Island Ferry Accident, According to FDNY Sources...

[soleft]

23. If this had happened at rush hour tho, could have been alot worse

[damnraddem]

24. It sounds like it wasn't slowed enough as it approached ...

and simply ran into the pier. What was described was not a gentle impact -- the thing must have been approaching way too fast.

[undergroundrailroad]

25. Injured taken to St. Vincent's Hospital

http://www.svcmc.org/statenisland/

Administration: 718-818-3186
Hospital Information: 718-818-1234
Emergency/Urgent Care: 718-818- 2070

[flamingyouth]

26. I just heard about this

As someone who rides ferries often, my heart goes out to the victims and their families. How horrible.

[Rose Siding]

29. The master of the Ferry committed suicide!

cnn- He went home after the crash and killed himself.

[SoCalDem]

30. Oh man...

That is so sad on so many levels..:(

[nostamj]

31. master is NOT dead (as of 6:10)

undergoing surgery (on local NY1 news)

12-14 dead. many seriously injured. lost limps. pilings came through lower level of boat.

the WINDS were INSANE here today. I could barely walk down my street against the wind. transit (bridges, airports) are messed up.

Bloomberg speaking live now

[Rose Siding]

32. They took him to the hospital from his home?

Is that what you heard? Wolf was very specific that he'd gone home to do it. Was there an update?

[nostamj]

33. the update

was that he was NOT dead and in a hospital.

bloomberg denied the whole thing a few minutes ago in a live press conference.

:shrug:

[undergroundrailroad]

34. What *I* heard on WCBS and WNBC :

One captain went to his apartment and attempted to take his life. The Mayor said the crew was "with the police" and are being "tested " for drugs/spirits.

In other words disregard what you "heard".

[undergroundrailroad]

35. New York 1 Update:

Ten Confirmed Dead, 34 Injured In Staten Island Ferry Crash
OCTOBER 15TH, 2003

Ten people have been confirmed dead and 34 injured following an accident involving the Staten Island Ferry Wednesday afternoon at the St. George terminal on Staten Island.

However, the Associated Press is reporting that 14 may have perished in the accident, the worst ferry accident in the city's history.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, speaking to reporters at 6 p.m., said that an investigation is underway into the cause of the accident. The mayor said that all crew members are alive and being interviewed.

Authorities say the boat, the Andrew J. Barberi, was returning from Manhattan when it crashed into the ferry slip on Staten Island as it tried to dock shortly before 3:30 p.m.

"The whole side of the boat was ripped open," Bloomberg said.

Eyewitnesses say the three-level ferry struck the wooden pilings that lead into the slip, causing a tear on the right side of the ship's hull at its lowest level. Some passengers aboard the ferry said the ship did not appear to slow down before it struck the pier.

There is speculation that high winds in the area may have played a part in the crash.

Dozens of victims have been taken to Staten Island University Hospital and St. Vincent's Hospital. The FDNY says that some of the victims have lost limbs.

There are also reports that some passengers jumped into the water to avoid injury. Coast guard and FDNY divers are on the scene searching for anyone who may have fallen into the water.

http://www.ny1.com/ny/TopStories/SubTopic/index.html?topicintid=1&subtopicintid=1&contentintid=33997

[robbedvoter]

36. Faux never mentioned it - not to lose ballgame ratings

Incredible! Covering a NYC game, for 1h - not one mention of a NYC major tragedy - wouldn't want people to switch channels!
I mean - think of it - people may have relatives, friends there - not Murdoch's problem! :puke:

[johnfunk]

37. FAUX ignoring it, but I'm sure by now...

... that the stooges over at Free Rethuglic have blamed the ferry crash on the Clintons...

[dArKeR]

38. The captain and crew will be drug tested. Why aren't Bush and

his federal workers, Rumsfeld, Cheney, Lice, Wolfowitz..., drug tested as other federal/state/county workers are drug tested?

[dArKeR]

40. Just heard it official: all crew and captain will be drug and alcohol

tested! Why should the people American citizens HIRE to run our Federal Government be not be subjected to drug/alcohol testing? Thousand died in 9/11, Afghanistan, Iraq, Columbia, African nations... so why don't we drug/alcohol test our HIRED leaders to see if they're impaired while making decisions?

Why do defense company workers have to take drug/alcohol tests?