Latest news with #Mercogliano
Epoch Times
20-05-2025
- General
- Epoch Times
Turbulent Waters May Have Contributed to Mexican Tall Ship's Crash Into Brooklyn Bridge
When a Mexican navy tall ship crashed into the Brooklyn Bridge, it was maneuvering in turbulent waters. The tide had just turned, and a fast current was heading up the East River as a 10 mph wind set in. While such hazards are easily handled by an experienced captain, mistakes can be costly in the heavily transited New York harbor, where narrow, curvy channels, winds howling off the jagged Manhattan skyline, and whirlpool-like eddies can combine to make for difficult passage. In the case of the 300-foot Cuauhtemoc, two sailors were killed and 19 were injured Saturday evening when the training ship struck the iconic bridge, toppling the vessel's three masts like dominoes as it drifted toward a crowded pier. It's unknown what caused the collision, and an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board is likely to take months. But footage of the collision shot by horrified onlookers show the ship hurtling into the bridge in reverse at full speed, suggesting the captain lost control of the engine. There are also questions about whether a tugboat escort peeled away too soon and should have been rigged to the ship or stayed with it until it headed out to sea. Similar tugboat concerns emerged when a large cargo vessel crashed into a bridge in Baltimore last year. Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner who has powered multiple ships through the New York harbor, said all those 'worst-case scenarios'—the ship's height, a strong current, heavy wind, and the absence of a more controlled tugboat escort—all contributed to the tragedy. 'The prudent thing would've been to leave two hours earlier, when the tide was going out. That would've been the ideal time,' said Mercogliano, who writes a widely followed shipping blog. 'But I don't think they ever envisioned that their engine would've propelled them into the bridge.' Related Stories 5/15/2025 5/14/2025 Still, he said an even deadlier catastrophe was avoided by the ship's steel rigging, which prevented the masts from falling into the water, as well as the fact that the crew stayed harnessed in position rather than taking the risk that some members could tumble from a 12-story height as they scrambled down the rat lines. 'You could have had guys strapped in drowning in the river,' he said. 'This could have been a lot worse.' Mexican authorities told the family of América Yamilet Sánchez that the 20-year-old sailor died after falling from one of the Cuauhtemoc's masts, her aunt María del Rosario Hernández Jacome said Sunday at the family's home in Xalapa in the Mexican state of Veracruz. Earlier in the day Saturday, Sánchez, who was studying engineering at the Mexican naval academy, had spoken with her mother and excitedly told her that the ship's next stop would be Iceland. Her parents traveled to Mexico City on Sunday to arrange for the return of their daughter's body, Hernández said. Relatives and friends arrived at the family's home carrying flowers. A small altar was set up on the patio with a photograph of Sánchez and candles. The Cuauhtemoc visited New York as part of a 15-nation global goodwill tour and was departing when it struck the bridge at around 8:20 p.m., briefly halting traffic atop the span. Mayor Eric Adams said the 142-year-old bridge escaped major damage, but at least 19 of the 277 sailors aboard the ship needed medical treatment. Two of the four people who suffered serious injuries later died. The Cuauhtemoc sailed for the first time in 1982. It is almost 300 feet long and its main mast has a height of 160 feet, about 30 feet higher than the span of the Brooklyn Bridge. The vessel, which arrived in New York on May 13, backed out from the tourist-heavy South Street Seaport, where it had been docked for several days welcoming visitors. It's unknown if the Mexican captain requested a dock pilot to assist with the unmooring, but a harbor pilot was on board to sail it through the harbor, as required. Tracking data from Marine Traffic and eyewitness videos show that an 1,800-horsepower tugboat, the Charles D. McAllister, gently nudged the vessel as it backed astern into the channel but dropped off before the vessel turned. Seconds later, as the ship continued drifting in the wrong direction, the tugboat tried to overtake the vessel but arrived too late to wedge itself between the fast-moving ship and the Brooklyn riverbank. McAllister Towing, the company that would have operated the tug and been responsible for any docking pilot aboard, declined to comment. Following last year's crash in Baltimore, Mercogliano said, port authorities there tightened rules to require a tug escort and slower speeds for vessels sailing through the harbor entrance past the partially collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The ship in that crash, the MV Dali, was a 95,000-ton container ship about 50 times heavier than the Cuauhtemoc. Accidents in New York harbor are rare because large cargo ships and modern warships generally avoid the area due to the low height of the bridges. But in July 2026, the harbor is expected to play host to the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Mercogliano said investigators will evaluate whether the Mexican crew performed the recommended safety checks prior to their departure. Typically that involves testing the engine's propellers, rudder and propulsion six to 12 hours in advance to make sure everything is working properly and nothing is left to chance. 'It's not like your car where you're just throwing your shifter,' he said. On Sunday, the damaged ship was moored at Pier 35 in lower Manhattan. A stream of people, including those who appeared to be investigators and crew, could be seeing getting on and off the vessel. The Coast Guard said damage to the Cuauhtémoc was being assessed. The Coast Guard established a 50-yard safety zone around the ship as the investigation by both the U.S. and Mexican governments got underway.
1News
19-05-2025
- General
- 1News
Turbulent waters may have contributed to Brooklyn Bridge ship crash
When a Mexican navy tall ship crashed into New York's Brooklyn Bridge, it was manoeuvring in turbulent waters. The tide had just turned, and a fast current was heading up the East River as a 16km/h wind set in. While such hazards are easily handled by an experienced captain, mistakes can be costly in the heavily transited harbour, where narrow, curvy channels, winds howling off the jagged Manhattan skyline and whirlpool-like eddies can combine to make for difficult passage. In the case of the 90-metre Cuauhtemoc, two sailors were killed and 19 were injured yesterday when the ship struck the bridge, toppling the vessel's three masts like dominoes as it drifted toward a crowded pier. It's unknown what caused the collision, and an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board is likely to take months. But footage of the collision shot by horrified onlookers shows the ship hurtling into the bridge in reverse at full speed, suggesting the captain lost control of the engine. There are also questions about whether a tugboat escort peeled away too soon and should have been rigged to the ship or stayed with it until it headed out to sea. Similar tugboat concerns emerged when a large cargo vessel crashed into a bridge in Baltimore last year. Police said the ship was carrying 277 passengers when the masts hit the bridge's span. (Source: Supplied) Sal Mercogliano, a former merchant mariner who has powered multiple ships through the New York harbour, said all those 'worst-case scenarios' — the ship's height, a strong current, heavy wind and the absence of a more controlled tugboat escort — all contributed to the tragedy. 'The prudent thing would've been to leave two hours earlier, when the tide was going out. That would've been the ideal time," said Mercogliano, who writes a widely followed shipping blog. 'But I don't think they ever envisioned that their engine would've propelled them into the bridge.' Still, he said an even deadlier catastrophe was avoided by the ship's steel rigging, which prevented the masts from falling into the water, as well as the fact that the crew stayed harnessed in position rather than taking the risk that some members could tumble from a 12-story height as they scrambled down the rat lines. 'You could have had guys strapped in drowning in the river," he said. 'This could have been a lot worse.' The Cuauhtemoc visited New York as part of a 15-nation global goodwill tour and was departing for Iceland when it struck the bridge at around 8.20pm (local time), briefly halting traffic atop the span. Mayor Eric Adams said the 142-year-old bridge escaped major damage, but at least 19 of the 277 sailors aboard the ship needed medical treatment. Two of the four people who suffered serious injuries later died. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum lamented the loss. 'Our solidarity and support go out to their families,' Sheinbaum said on X. The Cuauhtemoc sailed for the first time in 1982. It is almost 300 feet long, and its main mast has a height of 50 metres, about nine metres higher than the span of the Brooklyn Bridge. The vessel, which arrived in New York on May 13, backed out from the tourist-heavy South Street Seaport, where it had been docked for several days, welcoming visitors. It's unknown if the Mexican captain requested a dock pilot to assist with the unmooring, but a harbour pilot was on board to sail it through the harbour, as required. Tracking data from Marine Traffic and eyewitness videos show that an 1800-horsepower tugboat, the Charles D. McAllister, gently nudged the vessel as it backed astern into the channel but dropped off before the vessel turned. Seconds later, as the ship continued drifting in the wrong direction, the tugboat tried to overtake the vessel but arrived too late to wedge itself between the fast-moving ship and the Brooklyn riverbank. McAllister Towing, the company that would have operated the tug and been responsible for any docking pilot aboard, declined to comment. Following last year's crash in Baltimore, Mercogliano said, port authorities there tightened rules to require a tug escort and slower speeds for vessels sailing through the harbour entrance past the partially collapsed Francis Scott Key Bridge. The ship in that crash, the MV Dali, was a 95,000-ton container ship about 50 times heavier than the Cuauhtemoc. Incidents in New York harbour are rare because large cargo ships and modern warships generally avoid the area due to the low height of the bridges. But in July 2026, the harbour is expected to play host to the largest-ever flotilla of tall ships from around the world to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. Mercogliano said investigators will evaluate whether the Mexican crew performed the recommended safety checks prior to their departure. Typically, that involves testing the engine's propellers, rudder and propulsion six to 12 hours in advance to make sure everything is working properly and nothing is left to chance. 'It's not like your car where you're just throwing your shifter,' he said. Senator Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat and the Senate minority leader, said any investigation should look into whether the Trump administration's federal hiring freeze affected the US Coast Guard's staffing levels, safety procedures and accident-response readiness. 'After being fully briefed on last night's Brooklyn Bridge accident, one thing is predominantly clear: There are more questions than answers as it relates to exactly how this accident occurred,' Schumer said. Sydney Neidell and Lily Katz told The Associated Press they were sitting outside to watch the sunset when they saw the vessel strike the bridge. 'We saw someone dangling, and I couldn't tell if it was just blurry or my eyes. And we were able to zoom in on our phone, and there was someone dangling from the harness from the top for like at least like 15 minutes before they were able to rescue them,' Katz said. Just before the collision, Nick Corso took his phone out to capture the backdrop of the ship and the bridge against a sunset, Instead, he heard what sounded like the loud snapping of a 'big twig." Several more snaps followed. People in his vicinity began running, and 'pandemonium' erupted aboard the ship, he said. He later saw a handful of people dangling from a mast. 'I didn't know what to think. I was like, is this a movie?' he said.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
Chester County teacher accused of student sex assault surrenders, released on bail
The Brief A Chester County teacher accused of sexually assaulting a student surrendered to authorities on Monday. She was released on bond, and is expected back in court by the end of the month. Michelle Mercogliano is charged with sexual assault, along with supplying marijuana to the victim. BERWYN, Pa. - A teacher charged with sexually assaulting a student in Chester County was released on bail Monday shortly after turning herself into authorities. What we know Michelle Mercogliano posted $100,000 bail on Monday after surrending to Tredyffrin Township Police. The 35-year-old special education teacher is accused of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old student from Conestoga High School, while supplying him with marijuana. She was charged l;ast week with institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors, delivery of a controlled substance and other related offenses, but officials say she was not immediately taken into custody for medical reasons. The backstory Mercogliano first started communication with the 16-year-old victim earlier in the school year through Snapchat and text messaging, according to a criminal complaint. Police said she had provided the teen with medical marijuana about once a week since December 2024 and started having a sexual relationship with the victim in February, with the majority of the sexual contact at her home. Court documents state that the teen's father found medical marijuana packaging in his son's bedroom closet with the teacher's name on the label. Police also downloaded the victim's cell phone, which revealed communications between him and Mercogliano. "We heard from family members that there was a concern that there was a sexual relationship between a student and a teacher," said Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe, Chester County District Attorney. What's next Mercogliano is due back in court by the end of the month. The Source Information from this article was provided by Chester County officials and court documents.
Daily Mail
02-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Pennsylvania special-education teacher, 35, charged for sex assaults on 16-year-old student
Pennsylvania special-education teacher, 35, charged for sex assaults on 16-year-old student A married special-education teacher in Pennsylvania is facing over 60 charges for allegedly bringing a student to her parents' home and having sex with him about a dozen times and providing him with medical marijuana. Michelle Mercogliano, 35, was charged on Wednesday after the 16-year-old victim's family contacted police. The teacher at Conestoga High School in Berwyn could be indicted on 63 charges, including institutional sexual assault and the corruption of minors. Accused: Michelle Mercogliano, 35, was charged on Wednesday after a 16-year-old student's family contacted police about her allegedly having sex with the boy Mercogliano began a sexual relationship with the boy in February, according to a criminal complaint from the Tredyffrin Township PD. The student's father provided police with some marijuana packaging he found in his son's closet with Mercogliano's name on the label, according to the affidavit. Court documents obtained by ABC News stated: 'The [victim] disclosed that after school he would walk from Conestoga High School to the... apartment complex where Mercogliano would pick him up in the back parking lot and drive to his home, to her parents' residence, or drive him to the Sunnyside Marijuana Dispensary in Phoenixville.' The investigation began after the victim told his sister of his relationship with Mercogliano and the sibling then informed their parents. Fresh hiring: Mercogliano was a relatively new teacher at Pennsylvania's Conestoga High School, and she had started working there last fall The teacher and student allegedly had sex about 12 times, the victim told police, and often in Mercogliano's parents' home in Wayne, according to the complaint. Mercogliano was also said to have provided the boy with marijuana about 15 times. She allegedly communicated with him through Snapchat 'to go undetected' or via text message. The teacher lists herself as married on her Facebook page. School District Superintendent Richard Gusick said in a statement to the Philadelphia Inquirer that Mercogliano was placed on leave on Tuesday, and he added that the district was 'deeply troubled by these allegations'. Gusick said: 'We have no information at this time to indicate that the criminal investigation involves other students. The District remains committed to providing a safe and supportive school environment for all students.' According to the superintendent, Mercogliano was a relatively new teacher to the high school and had only started working there last fall. The teacher's not yet been arrested, but Chester County District Attorney's Office said she had been 'cooperative and arranging an appropriate time to turn herself in via her attorney'.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Yahoo
Chester County teacher faces felony charges after accusations of having sexual relationship with student
The Brief A Conestoga High School special education teacher is facing numerous felony charges for having a sexual relationship with a 16-year-old student. The Chester County District Attorney said the defendant had a medical issue and will promptly be taken into custody after she is cleared from a doctor. The teacher is also accused of providing medical marijuana to the student about 15 times since December 2024. BERWYN, Pa. - After being placed on leave this week when her school district learned she was being investigated for allegedly having sex with a student, a Conestoga High School teacher is charged with institutional sexual assault, corruption of minors, delivery of a controlled substance and other related offenses. What we know Michelle Mercogliano, 35, is accused of having a sexual relationship with a student at Conestoga High School, which is also where she worked as a special education reading teacher. The Chester County District Attorney said Mercogliano is not yet in custody due to medical reasons. "We learned from her attorney the defendant had an emergent medical issue. We were able to confirm that and once she is cleared, she will be promptly taken into custody, and we will be seeking a relatively high bail commensurate with the seriousness of this offense," said Christopher de Barrena-Sarobe, Chester County District Attorney. What they're saying Mercogliano faces numerous felony charges including Sexual Assault, Unlawful Contact with Minor and Sexual Contact with Student. Student Cecilia Kennedy didn't know Mercogliano personally but like many in the school community find the allegations deeply disturbing. "I'm honestly really uncomfortable and I'm surprised," said Kennedy. "I feel like it's just unsettling a teacher at my school would do that. Obviously, she should be in jail for a really long time." Timeline According to the police criminal complaint, Mercogliano first started communication with the 16-year-old victim earlier in the school year through Snapchat and text messaging. Tredyffrin Township Police said the teacher provided the teen with medical marijuana about once a week since December 2024 and started having a sexual relationship with the victim in February. Police said the majority of the sexual contact was at the teacher's home. Court documents said the teen's father found medical marijuana packaging in his son's bedroom closet with the teacher's name on the label and police also downloaded the victim's cell phone which revealed communications between him and Mercogliano. "We heard from family members that there was a concern that there was a sexual relationship between a student and teacher," said de Barrena-Sarobe. "Parents and students need to be able to trust that their teachers are going to be providing for students in all the right ways. This is all the wrong ways and we're going to hold this teacher accountable." School district statement The Tredyffrin Easttown School District released the following statement on Wednesday: Dear TESD Families and Community, Today, Tredyffrin Township Police and the Chester County District Attorney informed the District that charges have been filed against a Conestoga High School teacher, Michelle Mercogliano, related to alleged unlawful conduct with a Conestoga High School student. Ms. Mercogliano was placed on leave yesterday immediately after the District was made aware of the investigation, and she no longer has access to District property. The District appreciates the work of the Tredyffrin Township Police Department and District Attorney and is cooperating with the investigation. Out of respect for student privacy and the integrity of the investigation, the District will not provide additional comment or details at this time. Ms. Mercogliano began teaching at Conestoga this past fall. She was a teacher at Hillside Elementary School from 2019 to 2024 and a paraprofessional at Hillside Elementary and Valley Forge Elementary Schools from 2014 to 2018. We have no information at this time to indicate that the criminal investigation involves other students. However, if you have details you believe are relevant to this investigation, please contact Tredyffrin Township Police at 610-644-3221. We are deeply troubled by these allegations. The District remains committed to providing a safe and supportive school environment for all students. We encourage you to contact your child's Principal if any child needs support. Sincerely,Dr. Richard GusickSuperintendent of Schools
