Mexico mourns naval cadet killed when training ship collided with Brooklyn Bridge

XALAPA, Mexico (AP) — Dozens of people gathered overnight in the street where one of the Mexican naval cadets who died when their training vessel hit the Brooklyn Bridge lived.

América Yamilet Sánchez, 20, was in the final year of her studies at the naval academy when she was killed aboard the naval teaching vessel Cuauhtemoc on Saturday.

A small crowd gathered near her home in the early hours of Tuesday, many holding white roses and their cell phones to illuminate the way for the hearse carrying her body.

Naval officers accompanied her arrival around midnight at the orange painted house in Veracruz’s state capital Xalapa.

Sánchez was the pride of her family, a standout student and athlete, who had already distinguished herself — scoring top marks in her naval systems engineering studies. She was a squadron leader and among those selected for the special group that accompanied President Claudia Sheinbaum at her inauguration.

“I’m going to carry you in my heart. My daughter is the pride of all of Mexico, for all the world,” Cosme Sánchez said, holding a photograph of his daughter in her dress uniform. “I’m devastated, but we’re going to move forward. My daughter was an example for everyone, she’s going to be remembered as she should be.”

Among the flower arrangements at her family’s home was one with a one with a white sash reading, “Barracudas family, with love.” It came from the local swimming school where Sánchez learned to take her first strokes a decade ago. At the naval academy she won medals and represented the institution nationally in open water swimming competitions.

Her most recent honor was being awarded a place aboard the Cuauhtemoc, which planned to visit 22 ports in 15 countries. On Saturday, she sent her parents photos, told them she loved them and spoke excitedly of the ship’s next stop: Iceland.

Sánchez was high in one of the Cuauhtemoc’s three masts Saturday night when it slid out of its dock in New York, authorities told her family. It’s a ceremonial practice to greet and pay respects entering and leaving ports. “It’s a display of discipline, skill and respect, common in training sailboats,” said her uncle, Rodolfo Hernández Sayago.

“She was the pride (of the family),” Hernández said. “My girl stood out in everything she did.”

U.S. investigators laid out a timeline Monday showing the Cuauhtemoc was underway for less than 5 minutes before its masts crashed into the historic span, and radio calls indicating it was in distress went out only 45 seconds before the deadly collision.

With the help of a tugboat, the Cuauhtemoc backed away from a Manhattan pier filled with cheering people at 8:20 p.m. on Saturday, U.S. officials said.

Four minutes after the ship left, a radio call went out asking for help from any additional tugboats in the area, followed by other requests for assistance, National Transportation Safety Board investigator Brian Young told a media briefing Monday. Forty-five seconds after the first call, the ship, struck the bridge, snapping its three masts.

After a few minutes, the ship separated from the tug and picked up speed, still moving in reverse, heading for the bridge.

The Brooklyn Bridge escaped major damage but at least 19 of the ship’s 277 sailors needed medical treatment, according to officials.

Seven officers and 172 cadets who were aboard the Cuauhtemoc arrived early Monday at the port of Veracruz, where Mexico’s naval school is, the Mexican navy said in a post on X.

The body of the other sailor killed, 23-year-old Adal Jair Maldonado Marcos, was also returned to Mexico on Monday.

Mariachi musicians perform during the burial of Naval Academy Cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, who died aboard a Mexican Navy sailing ship that collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, in Xalapa, Mexico, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Victoria Razo)

Relatives of Naval Academy Cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, who died aboard a Mexican Navy sailing ship that collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, embrace next to her coffin, in Xalapa, Mexico, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Victoria Razo)

A man looks at a banner with photos of Naval Academy Cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, who died aboard a Mexican Navy sailing ship that collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, in Xalapa, Mexico, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Victoria Razo)

Relatives and friends of Naval Academy Cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, who died aboard a Mexican Navy sailing ship that collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, react during her burial, in Xalapa, Mexico, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Victoria Razo)

Cosme Sanchez, left, Rocio Hernandez, center, and Anderson Sanchez, family members of Naval Academy Cadet América Yamilet Sánchez, who died aboard a Mexican navy ship that collided with the Brooklyn Bridge, react during her burial, in Xalapa, Mexico, Tuesday, May 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Victoria Razo)

The Cuauhtemoc, a masted Mexican Navy training ship, center, is docked in Manhattan after it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The Cuauhtemoc, a masted Mexican Navy training ship, is docked in Manhattan after it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

The broken masts of the Cuauhtemoc, a masted Mexican Navy training ship, is seen after it collided with the Brooklyn Bridge in New York, Monday, May 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II announced Monday he is suspending his campaign for governor and instead joining the race for secretary of state of the battleground state.

Gilchrist, a progressive Democrat from Detroit, did not cite a specific reason for the change in his video announcement, but said he is not finished being a “public servant.” His departure clears up the Democratic primary and benefits the frontrunner, Jocelyn Benson, who is the current Secretary of State, in the race to replace term-limited Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

The secretary of state is Michigan's top election official, a highly politicized and visible role since the 2020 presidential election.

“Michigan has been ground zero in the battle for free and fair elections before, and it will be again,” Gilchrist said.

As Whitmer’s second in command and her running mate in two elections, Gilchrist struggled to match Benson’s name recognition and fundraising. He reported having around $378,000 of cash on hand as of October compared to Benson’s $2.98 million.

Benson is now set to face only Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson in the Democratic primary in August.

The inclusion of a well-known independent candidate has created a new problem for Democrats this year. Former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is avoiding costly primaries altogether by running as an independent. The Michigan Democratic Party slammed the former Democrat last week for not standing up to President Donald Trump’s second term policies.

In the Republican primary, U.S. Rep. John James, former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox, state Senate Leader Aaric Nesbitt and former Michigan House speaker Tom Leonard are jockeying for the nomination.

In his bid to become secretary of state, Gilchrist will face four other Democrats: Barb Byrum, Ingham County clerk; Aghogho Edevbie, deputy secretary of state; Suzanna Shkreli, a former Whitmer aide and commissioner of the Michigan State Lottery; and Adam Hollier, a former state senator from Detroit.

Michigan does not hold primary elections for the secretary of state position; the nominee is chosen by precinct delegates during party conventions. The Michigan Democratic Party convention is scheduled for April 19.

State Republicans plan to hold their nominating convention March 28 and GOP figures chasing the party's nomination for secretary of state include Anthony Forlini, Macomb County Clerk, and Monica Yatooma, an Oakland County executive.

In addition to the office of the governor and secretary of state, Michigan voters will be selecting a new state attorney general and a U.S. senator in November.

FILE - Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II waits before the State of the State address, Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, at the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, file)