Tragic photo emerges of young Navy cadet before she was killed when Mexican ship crashed into Brooklyn Bridge
América Yamilet Sánchez, 20, has been identified as one of the two fatal victims of the Saturday night catastrophe.
The Xalapa, Mexico native was reportedly standing atop one of the Cuauhtémoc's masts when the boat experienced a mechanical issue, causing the captain to lose control as the East River's current dragged it toward the iconic bridge.
Its 147-foot masts smashed into the crossing connecting Brooklyn and Manhattan, and terror ensued as onlookers watched victims dangle and plummet from the masts' beams.
Shortly before the nightmarish crash, Sánchez appeared to be enjoying a light-hearted trip to New York City.
In a chilling Facebook post, shared at 12:40pm on Sunday - about eight hours before the incident that ended her life - the bright-eyed Navy trainee was pictured during a night out in the Big Apple.
Captioned 'NY' with a red heart emoji, Sánchez wore a yellow blouse and blue jeans as she grinned while leaning against a metal railing.
The training ship was blurrily seen lit-up in the background.
According to local outlet E-Consulta Velacruz, outside of her naval pursuits, Sánchez was known as a talented swimmer who won several medals in the sport.
Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle García made the chilling announcement of the bright-futured cadet's death. The second deceased victim has yet to be publicly named.
'I deeply regret the passing of Veracruz cadet América Yamilet Sánchez,' the governor of Veracruz, where Xalapa is the capital, wrote on X Sunday afternoon.
The Mexican Navy has sworn to return her body to her family as soon as possible.
In addition to the two fatalities, the Navy reported 22 crew members were harmed and 11 of those are in critical condition. The remaining nine people are said to be stable.
There were 277 people onboard, 64 women and 213 men.
The Cuauhtémoc Training Ship was in New York as a part of the Bicentennial of the Consolidation of Independence at Sea tour.
The voyage aimed to commemorate 'the seafaring spirit, strengthen naval education and carry the message of peace and goodwill of the Mexican people to the seas and ports of the world,' according to SeaWaves Magazine.
Setting sail from Acapulco, the ship was destined for 22 ports across 15 different countries. When the boat crashed, the Navy personnel were bound for Iceland.
The records show the ship undocking at Seaport in Lower Manhattan around 8:20pm alongside a tugboat.
It was then seen rapidly losing control as it started to move backward toward the Brooklyn Brooklyn bridge.
The vessel was then seen drifting toward the Manhattan Bridge before it was saved by NYPD and FDNY boats.
The ship itself was moving in the 'wrong direction' when it slammed into the bridge, a senior city official close to the investigation revealed.
Its captain of the ship told investigators he lost control of the ship after the rudder - a piece attached near the stern of the boat for steering - shut down.
Shocked onlookers gathered on the nearby pier witnessed horrifying moment.
'I thought it was maybe some sort of a terrorist attack,' Aaron Travis, visiting from Texas, told DailyMail.com.
Another witness added: 'As long as I've lived I've never seen anything crash into the Brooklyn bridge.'
As emergency efforts unfolded, crowds were seen lining the streets, applauding first responders exiting the scene as emergency lights flashed and sirens blared.
NYC Mayor Eric Adams and other city officials also arrived at the scene for a press conference.
Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez confirmed there was no major damage to the bridge.
Both sides of the bridge were initially closed after the crash, but were reopened shortly after.
The Navy personnel may have been standing on the masts of the Mexican Navy ship as part of a ceremonial greeting and show of respect upon entering a port.
This tradition, known as 'manning the yards,' is a longstanding maritime custom practiced worldwide.
The sailors aboard the Cuauhtémoc appeared to have been engaged in this time-honored ritual during the crash.
In a statement shared on Sunday morning, the Secretary of the Navy and High Command of the Mexican Navy, Raymundo Pedro Morales Ángeles addressed the gut-wrenching tragedy.
'In difficult times, we reaffirm what is most valuable to the Mexican Navy: its people,' he wrote.
'I deeply regret what happened during the maneuver on the Training Ship Cuauhtémoc. My commitment to the well-being of naval personnel and their families is absolute.
'We know that every leg of the voyage carries risks inherent to our seafaring vocation. Therefore, the professionalism and constant preparation of our sailors are essential, but so is the humane support in the face of any adversity.
'From the first moment, protocols for medical care, institutional support, and direct accompaniment to the wounded and their loved ones were activated.'
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