A festive occasion turned into a scene of pandemonium when a luxury party yacht, filled with nearly 400 revelers, crashed into a pier on the Hudson River in New York City on a Saturday afternoon. The incident resulted in injuries to several passengers, as per official reports and law enforcement sources.
The yacht, named Timeless, was attempting to dock around 4:18 p.m. when a mooring line broke, leading to the collision with the pier at West 125th Street and the Henry Hudson Parkways. Zytin King, a lifelong New Yorker celebrating her 69th birthday on board with family and friends, recounted the incident. She said that the passengers were gathered in the disembarking area when the yacht hit the dock, causing many to lose their balance and fall.
The impact of the collision resulted in minor injuries to approximately 35 people, with 23 requiring further medical evaluation at local hospitals, according to fire officials. Despite the chaos, no one was thrown overboard during the incident.
King’s relative, who was also on board, described the incident as happening very quickly, causing her to fall onto her mother. Following the collision, all 352 passengers and crew members were safely evacuated from the yacht, some requiring wheelchairs for assistance.
Delores Mitchell, 69, who was in charge of the yacht’s catering, recalled hearing passengers express their pain but also their enjoyment of the party. Despite the frightening incident, King, a party promoter, expressed her relief that no one was seriously injured and her intention to continue the celebration in Harlem.
The Timeless, a three-story vessel and the largest in the Empire Cruises charter fleet, is equipped with three bars and a climate-controlled indoor seating area that can accommodate up to 550 passengers for trips along the Hudson River. The company, which charges $120 per person for events, could not be reached for immediate comment.
The cause of the crash is still unknown, and the investigation will be handled by the Coast Guard.