Man dies, 5 others injured in Memorial Day boating crash at Jersey Shore
A man died in a boating accident that injured five other people at the Jersey Shore on Memorial Day.
Authorities said 28-year-old Gunnar Pearson, of Barnegat, New Jersey, was riding on a boat that crashed into a channel marker in Barnegat Bay near the Brant Beach section of Long Beach Township around 5:45 p.m. Monday.
Investigators said Pearson and another passenger were thrown into the water during the crash. New Jersey State Police confirmed Tuesday that Pearson later died from his injuries.
Officials said the second person who was thrown overboard remains in critical condition. Four other people aboard the boat suffered minor injuries.
Witnesses described the crash as happening without warning.
“We just heard like a really loud bang from it, and we weren’t like positive like what was going on, but we saw people in the water,” witness Ford Hansen said.
Authorities said investigators do not believe any other boats were involved in the crash.
Witnesses said people on the boat struggled to rescue the passengers who had been thrown into the bay.
“The boat kept going, and because they didn’t have time to turn around, and they were obviously shocked,” witness Sean Stretch said.
“They were out there for a solid, like 15 minutes, trying to pick them up, get them on the boat,” Hansen said.
Officials later towed the damaged boat to a marina in the Brant Beach section of Long Beach Township, where first responders treated the injured victims.
“I saw this guy just laying down on the ground and receiving CPR,” Hansen said. “I’ve never seen something like that in my life, so it’s pretty, pretty traumatizing.”
The crash remains under investigation, and authorities have not said what caused the boat to strike the channel marker.
Michael Dolida, property manager of Brant Beach Yacht Club, said boating accidents can happen in an instant.
“You’re distracted for two seconds and life changes real quick,” Dolida said.
Investigators removed the boat from the water around 11 p.m. Monday.
“Boating accidents happen, just like car accidents happen… it’s a shame, especially on a holiday,” Dolida said.
Leave a Reply