1 killed in powerboat race off Ocean County
Repeat Offender, one of the boats involved in a fatal collision off northern Ocean County Sunday afternoon, heads out into the Atlantic Ocean earlier in the day. (Image courtesy of Sophia Centrella)
One person was killed in a powerboat collision during the Point Pleasant Beach Grand Prix off Ocean County Sunday afternoon.
Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Stephen Reid says the crash occurred shortly after 1 p.m. during a small boat event off Bay Head. The race’s track was a four mile loop in viewing distance from the beach between Point Pleasant Beach and Bay Head.
Reid tells News 12 New Jersey that during the race’s turn two, one boat went airborne and fell onto another boat, resulting in three people tossed into the water.
One person on the Repeat Offender boat was killed, and another was critically injured and transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, NJ.com reports. Two from Smith Brothers CRC, which crashed onto Repeat Offender, were rescued, according to the report.
Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office spokesman Al Della Fave says Repeat Offender crossed directly in front of Smith Brothers CRC, sparking the collision.
“It was rough but not as rough as these racers are used to,” Reid told the television station.
Approximately 40 boats were slated to race during the second annual event, and the mayor said the remainder of the boaters declined to participate during later rounds out of respect for the deceased racer.
The United States Coast Guard, New Jersey State Police, Point Pleasant Beach Police Department, Point Pleasant First Aid and Emergency Squad, MONOC, Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office, and the Ocean County Shreiff’s Department responded.
An investigation is ongoing.
#breaking First image of rescue crews tending to injured boat drivers. 4 riders total involved 1 dead, two hurt, one ok. @News12NJ pic.twitter.com/ByR0kvhvUY
— Jim Murdoch News12NJ (@ReporterJim) May 21, 2017
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