RedactedNarrative:      On this date, at approximately 19:42 hours, the undersigned was detailed to a report of a male falling off the bow of a boat and into the water near the Main Lake Market section of Lake Hopatcong (Morris County).  Reportedly, the male went under water and had not resurfaced.  Upon arrival at 19:47, the undersigned observed Jefferson Fire Department and Jefferson Police on scene and actively searching for the individual.  Witnesses were on shore at Main Lake Market yelling and pointing to the area the individual fell into the water as Good Samaritans searched from their boats.  The search area was in close proximity to a "No Wake" barrel positioned just off Main Lake Market's shoreline.  The undersigned immediately began searching that area placed a marker buoy on the area witnesses were pointing to.  The marker buoy was placed approximately 20 yards North of that "No Wake" barrel.
  
       During the search, my attention was drawn to a maroon pontoon boat bearing NJ registration. It is further described as Vessel #1 in this report.  The two white male occupants of the boat were yelling, screaming, and crying as they flailed their arms and paced back and forth on the pontoon boat.  The undersigned went over to Vessel #1 and was able to confirm that this was the vessel that the male had fallen from.  They confirmed that their friend had fallen overboard and had not resurfaced. 
  
  Operator of Vessel #1:  Operator said, "I was driving the boat.  victim fell off and is gone."  Operator was on his cell phone and crying.  The undersigned attempted to ask him more questions but he plead and sobbed stating, "Can't you just let me grieve?!"  It was explained to Operator that we needed his help in answering some questions to better establish the location where his friend went into the water.  Operator did not cooperate.
  
  Passenger of Vessel #1:  Occupant1 stated in effect that they were coming from Byram Cove and heading toward Brady Bridge.  Victim had been on the bow of the boat when he fell off in front of Main Lake Market close to the "No Wake" barrel.  He pointed to the area and said the people in the water searching were too far up and needed to go back toward the barrel.  Occupant1 said that his friend Victim was not wearing a life jacket and that he could swim.  The undersigned asked if Victim had been drinking.  Occupant1 said, “We have all been drinking too much.”  Occupant1 also indicated he was straddling the rail at the bow of the boat and Victim was positioned closer to the starboard side.  Occupant1 felt his straddling the rail kept him from falling in.
  
  Witness on Scene stated in effect :
       Subject1 was on shore at Main Lake Market and reported seeing 2 guys on the front bow of a pontoon boat and were dancing.  They were facing toward the driver of the boat as if they were being recorded.  They were in front of the Market going toward Brady Bridge.  He estimated their speed to be 10mph or faster.  He saw the one individual fall off the front of the boat and go under it.
  
  Witness on Scene stated in effect:
       Subject2 was sitting at Main Lake Market in front of the gas pumps.  He stated he saw a boat heading toward Brady Bridge with two white males dancing on the front of the boat.  They were hanging on the rail of the boat and looked like they were going to do a back flip.  He stated that he thought the driver of the boat was taking video of the two at the front.  He stated that the boat was on plane when he first noticed it. The guy fell off, hit the bow with his face, then went under the boat.  He added that the victim tried to grab on the boat as he went under it, but missed.
  
  Witness on Scene stated in effect:
       Subject3 reported that he was on shore at Main Lake Market and was fueling up his boat.  He saw a boat coming from Byram Cove and heading toward Brady Bridge with two white males on the front of the boat.  He said the boat was on plane and looked like it was doing 25 or 30 mph.  He did not see the individual fall in the water. 
       The undersigned informed the rescue crews on scene to redirect their search closer to the "No Wake" barrel as per Occupant1's statements.  I conducted a visual surface search of that area from my patrol boat and then returned to continue my investigation with Operator #1.  I conducted standard field sobriety tests on Operator and determined that he was under the influence.  He was arrested, handcuffed, searched and read his rights as per Miranda (see NJSP report V510201900002D). 
  
  The body of Victim was recovered at approximately 06:30 hours on 8/05/2019 (Monday).  It was noted that Victim had significant trauma to his head.  This was especially demonstrated on the right side of his face and head in the way of severe lacerations and bruising.  He was transported to Morristown Medical Center by Morris County Medical Examiner's Office for postmortem examination. 
  
  
  Investigation revealed:
        Vessel #1 is a 2013 Sun Tracker Party Barge 20 DLX and described as a twin aluminum hulled pontoon style runabout, 20 feet in length.  The helm is located within the passenger area amidships on the starboard side.  From the helm the operator controls engine throttle/speed, direction and steering.  There is port and starboard bow lounge seating forward of the helm and aft L-lounge seating adjacent to the helm on the port side.  The vessel is equipped with three doorways integrated into the railing system around the passenger compartment.  These doorways allow access to and from the passenger compartment at the bow, stern and port side.  The vessel is powered by a Mercury Marine gasoline combustion outboard engine rated at 60 horsepower with a conventional propeller.   
       Vessel #1 was occupied by three adult males all not wearing personal flotation devices (PFDs).  Operating the vessel and positioned at the helm was operator.  He did not have the vessel's emergency shut off lanyard affixed to his person.  Occupant1 was a passenger on the vessel and straddling the port side bow railing.  More specifically, he was positioned with one leg within the passenger area and the other leg out on the swim platform.  Victim was the second passenger on the vessel and standing on the starboard bow outside the passenger area facing aft. 
  
  
  Operator was underway in a northeasterly direction on Lake Hopatcong, a non-tidal freshwater lake with little to no natural current.  The weather was clear.  There was no obstruction of visibility due to atmospheric conditions.  Vessel traffic was light.  Operator was traveling forward at an unknown speed, at approximate GPS coordinates: 40°57’28”N, -74°37’37”W when Victim ejected off the bow of the vessel.  Victim Gil struck the swim platform of the forward moving vessel as he impacted the water.  
  
  Operator continued to travel over Victim striking him with the propeller and skeg components of the engine's lower unit assembly.  Victim was fatally injured as a result of this incident and the cause of death will be determined at a later date upon completion of an autopsy report conducted by the Morris County Medical Examiner.  Both Operator and Occupant1 were uninjured.     
  
  