Effect

            
             One of New York's Staten Island ferries crashed into a pier Wednesday afternoon, October 15, 2003. This accident caused the death of 10 people and sent 42 people to hospital, including one man whose leg was severed. Most of the people killed were sitting on the main deck on the bottom level.
             The 310-foot-long ferry was carrying an estimated 1,500 passengers, and was docking at Staten Island when the accident happened about 3:20 p.m. The ferry struck a concrete pier surrounded by wooden pilings, which gashed the vessel's port side. As the ferry moved forward, the pier continued ripping the steel and windows all the way to the rear of the ship. .
             From a passenger's point of view, on one side of the ship, everyone was okay. On the other side, where the ship hit the pier, there was complete tragedy. There were no announcements, so the passengers on the farther side didn't know what was going on.
             Presently, they do not know what caused the accident, but they are investigating the pilot. There are accusations that he had fallen asleep at the wheel. Was he sleep or was he unconscious? It has been reported that he was found at his home later that evening, apparently he had attempted to commit suicide. He slit both of his wrist and shot himself with a pellet gun.
             Who would have thought that this 25minute ferry ride would cause a lifetime of tragedy. Of the 42 passengers injured, they struggled with injuries such as, fractures, lacerations, amputations, chest and back pain, and hypothermia. But the worst of it is that 9 men and 1 woman lost their lives. My heart goes out to the families of these victims. This is one of those events where you ask yourself why This investigation is still pending and we all hope that this accident didn't happen because of drugs or alcohol.