Wall Street commuters hurt as ferry smashes into dock

A corner of the ferry was ripped open in the crash at 8.45am, and passengers fell on each other, screaming and crying.

Those aboard the Seastreak Wall Street ferry said scores of people who had been waiting to disembark were thrown to the deck by the impact. Others were left bloodied as they rebounded from the walls and hit the floor.

“The boat hit the dock. We just tumbled on top of each other. I got thrown into everybody else. People were hysterical,” said Ellen Foran.

Firefighters were still carrying people away on stretchers an hour after the crash.

More than 340 passengers and crew members were aboard the ferry from New Jersey, one of many that carry commuters to the island of Manhattan.

Dee Wertz was on shore waiting for the ferry and saw the impact. “It was coming in a little wobbly. It hit the right side of the boat on the dock hard, like a bomb.”

After the impact, the boat docked normally and passengers raced off once the ramp came down.

“I think people just wanted to get the heck off the boat as soon as they could,” said Ms Wertz.