Coast Guard rescues 3 after 9-foot boat capsizes

A passing Coast Guard crew pulled three people from the water shortly after they saw the trio’s boat capsize off the Jersey Shore.

Authorities say the boat from Coast Guard Station Sandy Hook was on routine patrol when its crew witnessed the nine-foot Jon boat overturn around 2:30 p.m. Saturday near Highlands in extreme northeastern Monmouth County.

The three people in the capsized boat were knocked into the water. But the Coast Guard’s 29-foot small response boat rushed to the area and pulled the three people from the water before bringing them back to the shore.

Officials say no injuries were reported. The names of the people aboard the capsized boat have not been disclosed.

It’s not yet clear what caused the boat to capsize. A jon boat is a flat-bottomed boat constructed of aluminum, fiberglass, or wood with one, two, or three bench seats, according to wikipedia.org.

The Coast Guard reminds boaters to keep a close eye on the water conditions and know the limits of your boat before heading out.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.