The tragic incident that occurred on Saturday evening, resulting in the collision of the Mexican Navy ship Cuauhtémoc with the Brooklyn Bridge, has led to the identification of two cadets who perished. Cadet América Yamilet Sánchez and Adal Jair Marcos were confirmed as the victims by Mexican authorities, as reported by ABC 7 New York and NY Daily News. The ship was embarking on an international goodwill tour and was set to head to Iceland before losing power and drifting into the iconic bridge.
The collision, which happened shortly before 8:30 p.m., not only resulted in the deaths of Sánchez and Marcos but also inflicted injuries on 22 crew members with at least 11 reported to be in critical condition. In a heartrending twist of fate, Sánchez, who would have celebrated her 21st birthday in June, had earlier shared an image of the ship on social media, unaware that it would be her final journey. "América wasn’t just a cadet. She was also an outstanding swimmer, a young woman full of light, commitment and dreams," said a statement obtained by NY Daily News from an editorial about the victim.
Upon the immediate aftermath, local authorities, including the NYPD Harbor Unit and SCUBA teams, rushed to assist. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is already on site to begin thoroughly investigating the incident. A preliminary indication suggests the cause was likely a mechanical issue on the sailboat, as detailed by officials. The Brooklyn Bridge apparently sustained no structural damage, enabling traffic to resume quickly, which the New York City Department of Transportation confirmed to ABC 7 New York.
"As a community, we just want to say that we're here for them," Maria Mejia—a representative of the community—told ABC 7 New York. Marcos, who hailed from Oaxaca and remembered as a bringer of joy and a loyal friend, leaves behind a grieving community both in social media spaces and his hometown, as per a statement from a childhood friend who spoke to NY Daily News.
