Berkeley Township Officials Urge Safer Waterways After Fatal Boat Crash

BERKELEY, NJ — Berkeley Township officials are calling on authorities to ensure that waterways are as safe as possible following a tragic boat crash where two young children died.

Two children were thrown from a boat after it struck an Intracoastal Waterway channel marker Sunday night, according to police. Read more: 2 Children Killed In Jersey Shore Boat Crash

At Monday's Township Council meeting, Council President Michael Signorile read a letter from a resident requesting that the state institute a program allocating comprehensive statewide inspections of the navigation lanes.

The resident also asked that a routine maintenance program be established to identify and repair deficiencies in the Intracoastal Waterway channel markers.

Signorile asked to make a resolution imploring the state to prioritize these programs to prevent further tragedies.

Councilman Jim Byrnes agreed, and added that it should be sent to Rep. Jeff Van Drew as the Intracoastal Waterway is federal waters.

The vote to create the resolution was unanimous.

Mayor John Bacchione thanked the council for their decision.

"We're a maritime community, and we definitely need the waterways to be safer," Bacchione said.

Byrnes and Bacchione also thanked the fire department, EMTs and police for their quick response to the scene Sunday night and for working through the night.

"It's my belief that our police department, our fire - who are volunteers - department and our EMS are second to none in Ocean County and maybe in the state of New Jersey," Bacchione said.