11 Injured, 1 Critical After Ferry Heading To N.J. Hits Kayakers: Cops

At least 11 people were injured — one critically, nearly losing an arm — when a ferry heading to New Jersey hit people kayaking, according to police.

Five people were taken to hospitals near Jersey City, most with minor shoulder and back injuries after the Hudson River accident. The NYPD Harbor Unit says the instructor suffered a partially severed arm, according to WABC-TV.

The incident happened just before 6 p.m. Tuesday near Pier 79 on Manhattan's west side as a group of 10 kayakers were paddling down the river, according to News12.

The group was riding in eight kayaks, and at least two kayaks were hit by the NY Waterway ferry, according to the report.

The ferry was leaving the New York City terminal and heading to Jersey City, and authorities and eyewitnesses told the station that the sun was low, making visibility difficult.

A kayaker told Eyewitness News that coming face to face with a ferry is still a blur, and that both he and his sister were pulled from the Hudson River after a NY Waterways Water Taxi hit the kayakers in their group.

As to the critically injured kayaker, "his bone was exposed. He lost a lot of blood and he was lapsing in and out of consciousness," David Driscoll, commanding officer, inspector, Harbor Unit, told reporters.

Photo courtesy of WABC-TV