Two bodies have been recovered and another was still missing Sunday after a tugboat crashed into a construction barge at the Tappan Zee Bridge in New York, officials said.
Divers pulled the body of 29-year-old Timothy Conklin, of Long Island, out of the Hudson River as they continue to search for another missing person, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference.
The 84-foot tugboat sank Saturday after crashing into a stationary and secure barge at the base of the bridge while attempting to pass through the construction area. The tugboat, carrying about 5,000 gallons of diesel fuel, was still leaking oil into the river Sunday, officials said. “Sometimes it’s just a pure accident, and that’s what this occurs to be,” Cuomo said.
Crewman Paul Amon, 52, was also killed in the accident, according to the New York Daily News. Cuomo said Conklin’s family was “obviously still in shock” after learning about the tragedy. “You tend to hope against hope even when it’s improbable,” Cuomo said. “They were hoping there was a different outcome and unfortunately there wasn’t.”
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Breaking Down the 2024 Election Calendar
- How Nayib Bukele’s ‘Iron Fist’ Has Transformed El Salvador
- What if Ultra-Processed Foods Aren’t as Bad as You Think?
- How Ukraine Beat Russia in the Battle of the Black Sea
- Long COVID Looks Different in Kids
- How Project 2025 Would Jeopardize Americans’ Health
- What a $129 Frying Pan Says About America’s Eating Habits
- The 32 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2024
Contact us at letters@time.com