1 dead, 11 injured after tour boat capsizes in Erie Canal tunnel in New York 

One person died and 11 others were injured after a boat capsized on Monday during a tour of a historic underground tunnel for the Erie Canal in upstate New York, authorities said. 

A group of 29 hospitality workers was taking a tour with the Lockport Cave & Underground Boat Ride company, which takes passengers through a 300-foot, 19th Century tunnel used to carry water from the Erie Canal to the city of Lockport, about 20 miles northeast of Niagara Falls. 

At one point during their tour, the boat became unbalanced and tipped over, launching all 29 passengers into 6-foot-deep water inside the dimly-lit tunnel.

“By the time I realized what happened, the boat was on top of me and I couldn’t find any air pockets or anything. And I’m just trying to, like, breathe because I’m underwater,” survivor Daniel Morrissette told ABC's “Good Morning America” in an interview.

Some passengers were able to swim to safety on their own, despite the cold waters inside the tunnel. Others were rescued by rescue crews in an inflatable boat, according to Lockport Fire Chief Luca Guagliano. Yet a few other passengers climbed on top of the boat’s upturned hull and waited to be rescued.

Eleven of the passengers had suffered minor injuries and were transported to nearby hospitals. One person died during the incident after being trapped under the boat. 

It is still unclear what caused the boat to capsize. Authorities are investigating the incident and the attraction, which has operated since the mid-1970s, will remain closed until the investigation concludes. 

“We have a lot of questions that need to be answered,” said Police Chief Steven Abbott.

None of the passengers were wearing life vests. However, it is unclear whether the company required passengers to use them, according to authorities. 

All of the passengers were hospitality employees working at several locations in Niagara County and were taking the tour to familiarize themselves with it, according to Adrea Czopp, chief operating officer at Destination Niagara USA.