$6.5 Million For Staten Island Ferry Crash Victim

Almost five years after the horrifying incident where the Staten Island Ferry crashed into wooden pilings at a pier, the city will pay $6.5 million to a man who lost part of his right leg. Shriram Agni was on the front of the boat when the ferry crashed, and his right leg was "sandwiched between collapsing seats."

Agni's leg, six inches below the knee, was amputated due to complications and he learned to walk again on his crutches, then a prosthesis. He was also transfered to the NY State Division of Housing and Community Renewal's St. George office. Agni, a state accountant, tells the Staten Island Advance he cannot ride the ferry, "I'm still getting nightmares about the accident."

Last year, a judge ruled the city could not cap the amount of damages, which the city is still appealing. Agni's settlement was the third-largest so far; two victims who each lost both legs receiving $8.9 million and $9 million. The Post reports "123 of 186 lawsuits have been settled for a total of $34 million."

The accident, which killed 11 people and injured man others, occurred when the pilot, Assistant Captain Richard J Smith, was tired; he was also medicated. Smith pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to 18 months in prison. Ferry supervisor Patrick Ryan was also sentenced to just over a year in prison for not following the two-pilot rule.