RedactedNarrative: 6/13/2021
  On the above date, I responded to Toms River township reference a vessel accident. While en route it was learned that one person had sustained life threatening injuries and was not responsive. That subject was transported via Helicopter out of Shelter Cove. He was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
  Upon arrival at 0235hrs, I was met with Toms River PD who advised me that Toms River PD received a call that there was an 18 year old unconscious male on a boat. He advised that when he got onto the boat, the injured victim, was lying down with his head towards the bow on his right side, having difficulty breathing and with a noticeable injury to his head, and the right side of his face. I was advised the pontoon boat involved in the vessel accident was docked in rear of the residence. I observed the vessel to have heavy bow damage, and a small pool of blood on the bow deck. I was met with the homeowner in the backyard. He had advised that it was his pontoon and that his son and friends were driving it and were involved in the accident. 
  He had advised that no alcohol was involved. It should be noted that when inspecting the vessel, no alcohol was observed on board, in the area of the dock, or the backyard.
  Boat owner advised all parties involved in the accident were inside of the house. They were asked out of the house where I spoke to the Operator and all other occupants. Operator stated he was operating the vessel and that he had been following the channel marker when he struck one that had not been flashing.
  They were asked to provide a written statement of the incident which they all provided. When asked if there was alcohol involved, all stated that there was not. It was learned that all parties were treated by Toms River EMS prior to my arrival. VICTIM 2 was treated for a head injury (concussion) and a right ankle injury (Sprain). VICTIM 1 complained of left rib pain and was treated for same. She was picked up at the residence and transported by her mother to JFK Medical Center. The operator was uninjured. Occupants 1 and 2 were both ejected from the vessel into the water and were both uninjured. The following details the handwritten statements that had been provided by the occupants:
  Operator #1 stated: "We were returning home and following the red flashing lights on the metal buoys and one light was out and we struck the metal pole. We were unable to see the pole since the light was out. I was following the lights along with my GPS on the boat in order to get home. Two passengers went overboard and the rest stayed in the boat.
  We were traveling at 19.2 km before we struck the pole".
  VICTIM 1 stated: "I was sitting on the seat directly next to the driver. I was laying down. We went on the boat picked up a few friends. We grilled on the boat when we docked. We drove a few people back home. Then we headed home there was a pole I guess I just flew off the seat".
  Passenger 1 stated: "We were all heading home, me and matt were sitting in the front of the boat. Nobody saw the marker in the water and next thing I know me and PASSENGER 2 are trying to stay afloat. Our clothes drenched just trying to stay at the surface so we didn't drown. We swam to the pole and hung onto the ladder for dear life. I held my phone in my hand waving my flashlight to show them where we were. We got back on the boat, I placed my phone on the floor and it ended up in the water. We came back as fast as possible".
  Passenger 2 stated: "After going out to grill with friends going 9kmh we crashed into a metal/ wood pylon. I got thrown overboard with passenger. We got back on board and I turned VICTIM 3 on his side, I was helping OPERATOR 1 stay on course with lights, but the pylon we hit did not have any lights/ blinking lights".
  Investigation revealed: Vl was traveling southbound through Barnegat Bay along the ICW in Toms River Twp., Ocean County. While operating along the ICW, Operator #1 struck New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway Light "26" head on, This crash caused both occupants, PASSENGER 1/2, to be ejected. Occupant, VICTIM 3, sustained a head injury during the vessel accident and was lying face down on his right side having difficulty breathing. Occupants 1 and 2 were able to get back on board where they navigated to Toms River. When docked, they called 911 and notified dispatch. Toms River PD and EMS arrived on scene and evaluated the operator and all occupants. VICTIM 2 was evaluated for head pain for a suspected concussion and a right ankle injury. VICTIM 1 was evaluated for a complaint of pain to her left ribs. She was picked up by her mother and transported to JFK Medical Center in Edison for further evaluation. Occupant VICTIM 3 was flown out of Shelter Cove via Aviation and transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center for further evaluation.
  Due to the severity of the injuries sustained by occupant VICTIM 3, I requested the assistance of the New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit (FAIU), and the Crime Scene Investigations Unit (CSI), Detectives from CSI responded and processed the scene. FAIU and Ocean County Prosecutor's Office were notified and advised of the incident and did not respond. It was learned that VICTIM 3 had a residence. PD responded to that address and notified victim’s father that his son was involved in an accident and was flown to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
  At this time, members of the Troop "C" Criminal Investigation were briefed on the investigation thus far. These Detectives subsequently arrived at Toms River, Ocean County and began their investigation. As the investigation continued, Detectives conducted multiple interviews and it was revealed that there were a total of six individuals on board the vessel when it struck Intracoastal Waterway Marker #26 head-on during the early morning hours of Sunday, June 13, 2021. Of the six individuals on board, four sustained minor injuries, with two having been ejected. One passenger sustained moderate injuries and the victim sustained serious bodily injuries. During the course of the investigation, it was learned that the victim had succumbed to the injuries he had sustained during the crash and had been pronounced deceased upon his arrival at Jersey Shore University Medical Center at 0609hrs.
  The next of kin notification had been made by hospital staff.
  While on scene, a Consent to Search was presented to the registered owner of the vessel, which was granted, and a subsequent search was completed with nothing of evidentiary value having been secured. After conducting a post-Miranda interview with OPERATOR 1, who had been identified as the operator of the vessel at the time of the crash, he admitted to consuming two alcoholic beverages prior to operation. OPERATOR 1 subsequently consented to a blood draw. OPERATOR 1 was relayed to Community Medical Center in Toms River for a blood draw. Upon arrival, I subsequently read to him a NJSP Consent to Draw and Test Blood which he agreed to via his signature. Detectives and Troopers secured same. Detectives then met with members of the Marine Services Bureau where they were able to locate Intracoastal Waterway Marker #26 within the Barnegat Bay and photo-document the damage that it had sustained which was consistent with the damage the vessel had sustained. Furthermore, they were able to procure wood material from the Intracoastal Waterway Marker #26 that appeared consistent with that belonging to the vessel.