Mexican authorities have identified the two young cadets who died after the Mexican Navy training ship, Cuauhtémoc, collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York on Saturday night.
They are América Yamilet Sánchez, from Xalapa, Veracruz, and Adal Jair Marcos, from Salina Cruz, Oaxaca.
The governor of Veracruz, Rocío Nahle, said on May 18 that she “deeply regrets the death” of Sánchez, in a message posted on the social media platform X.
“All my love, support, and solidarity go out to her family. ... My wishes for a speedy recovery to the injured,” Nahle said.
Sánchez, a cadet at the Heroic Naval Military School, was recognized for her outstanding career as a swimmer and her commitment to the institution, according to the EFE news agency.
The authorities of the municipality of San Mateo del Mar, Oaxaca, the hometown of Marcos, mourned the cadet’s death.
“We express our heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones,” said the obituary posted on May 18 by the municipality on Facebook.
Marcos is remembered by his family and friends as being passionate about traveling, according to a post dedicated to his memory on social media.
The incident occurred on Saturday night when the navy ship Cuauhtémoc, carrying 277 people on board, was preparing to depart for Iceland after remaining docked at the New York City Port Museum from May 13 to 17 as part of its annual training voyage on the world’s oceans.
According to the Mexican Navy, the ship set sail from Pier 17 in Manhattan when it veered north and headed toward the Brooklyn shore, where it struck the bridge.
Mexican Navy Secretary Admiral Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles, after expressing his regret over the accident, said, “My commitment to the well-being of the naval personnel and their families is absolute,” in a statement released May 18 on X.
“We know that every voyage carries risks inherent to our seafaring vocation. Therefore, the professionalism and constant training of our sailors are essential, but so is human support in the face of any adversity,” he added.
The Secretary of the Navy added that “medical protocols were activated from the first moment,” as well as support for the injured and their families.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, U.S. authorities began a joint investigation with Mexican authorities to determine the causes of the accident.
The Mexican Navy’s high command added that “the investigations will be followed up promptly, with complete transparency and responsibility.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams reported that the 142-year-old bridge, which is a national monument, “sustained no damage” during the incident and was quickly reopened to the public, he wrote on the evening of May 17.
In an update, Adams said that the Cuauhtémoc lost power before the accident and that aside from the two deaths, another 19 people were injured, including two in critical condition.
Melanie Sun contributed to this report.
