New York ferry crash: Up to 50 injured

A commuter ferry has crashed into the dockside in Lower Manhattan in New York, injuring between 30 and 50 people.

The Seastreak Ferry, which provides daily services from Atlantic Highlands in New Jersey, struck Pier 11 in the East River not far from Wall Street at about 8:45am ET (1:45pm GMT).

Officials say at least two of the passengers were in a critical condition, one with confirmed head injuries.

The vessel apparently had a hard landing as it was trying to dock. Images showed a corner of the ferry ripped open.

“There was a jolt when that occurred, throwing the people forward into their seats and the walls,” Seastreak President James Barker told NBC 4 New York.

Passenger Ellen Foran said people tumbled on top of each other, hysterical and crying.

“All of a sudden, the boat felt like it smashed into a wall,” Richard Correra told WCBS-TV.

“Dozens of passengers got thrown out of their seats, got thrown forward,” he said.

“Some were heading downstairs and just flew down the stairs and hit their heads on various poles and walls.”

Many of the 340-plus passengers and crew were taken off the ferry on backboards for medical evaluation, their heads and necks immobilised.

Television pictures showed more than a dozen people on stretchers spread across the dockside, surrounded by emergency workers and firefighters.