2 Boating Crashes, 3 Deaths In 6 Days At The Jersey Shore

BARNEGAT BAY, NJ — Authorities continue to investigate a pair of boating crashes in less than a week that killed three people on Barnegat Bay, a popular recreational boating area at the Jersey Shore.

Both crashes happened when boaters hit channel markers for the Intracoastal Waterway at night, New Jersey State Police said.

On Saturday, a 26-year-old Green Brook man was killed and three others were injured when a 32-foot Boston Whaler hit a marker shortly before 11 p.m.

Six days earlier,two Ocean County children were killed when the 30-foot Tidewater Custom 280 they were aboard with their grandparents hit a channel marker shortly before 9 p.m.

State police have not said which channel markers were hit or how the crashes happened. They have not released any additional information on the crashes beyond the names of those aboard the boats, citing the ongoing investigations.

Michael T. Bereheiko, 26, of Green Brook, died in Saturday's crash, while Steven Pochick, 27, of Green Brook, and Nicholas Cherasaro, 27, of North Plainfield, suffered serious injuries and were taken to a hospital, state police said.

Sarah Stuhl, 24, of Bayville, suffered minor injuries, police said. The boat's operator, Kevin Wells, 39, from Warren, drove the vessel to a residence on Silver Lagoon Drive in Toms River, where emergency personnel responded, state police said.

Little has been shared publicly about Bereheiko as of Monday, except for a Facebook post by his sister-in-law, who described him as "the best brother, brother-in-law and uncle." "How do we even go on now," she wrote.

The family and friends of Mya and Sigmund Golabek, the 9-year-old girl and 7-year-old boy who died July 19 were still reeling as well. The children were laid to rest on Friday.

They were thrown overboard in what appears to have been a different site from where Wells hit the channel marker on Saturday. In the July 19 crash, first responders went to an area of Barnegat Bay off Berkeley Township after Stephen Schneider, 63, hit a channel marker, state police said.

Barnegat Bay is extremely popular with recreational boaters, particularly families with children, because the bay is relatively calm compared with boating on the ocean.

It also is part of the Intracoastal Waterway, a 3,000-mile shipping route along the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of America, as described by American Nautical Services. It was used during World War II to avoid submarines at the coast, but now is used by commercial and recreational boaters for travel, particularly for more relaxed travel or for safer transit during storms that make the ocean dangerous for smaller vessels.

In New Jersey, it encompasses 117 miles, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, from the Atlantic Ocean at Manasquan Inlet to the Delaware Bay, about 3 miles north of Cape May Point, which maintains the depth of the channel — about 6 feet in Barnegat Bay.

The Intracoastal Waterway channel is marked by what are called dayboards that are mounted on single pilings, teepee-like pilings or on a larger structure, according to American Nautical Services. They are large red triangles or green squares, and have a yellow border or yellow triangle/square on them to distinguish them from port markers, American Nautical Services notes.

Photos of some of the channel markers in Barnegat Bay can be seen on the Sailing Fortuitous blog.

New Jersey law requires people who drive motorized boats or personal watercraft to pass a boating safety course and obtain a boating license. Part of the safety course focuses on educating boaters about the channel navigational markers.

Over the weekend, Barnegat Bay was busier than usual, with thousands of boaters participating in "FloatShoalla," a popular gathering at Tices Shoal on the bay side of Island Beach State Park. State police have not said if the boat in Saturday's crash had been at the event.

The crashes have officials reminding boaters of the need to take care on the water. Other officials have demanded efforts to improve safety for boaters.

On Friday, New Jersey State Police had issued a more extensive reminder to boaters that "safety is everyone’s responsibility."

"Boating under the influence (BUI) puts lives at risk. Alcohol slows reaction time, impairs judgment, and increases the likelihood of serious incidents. Always designate a sober operator before heading out. Speed matters — excessive speed and careless wakes can damage property, capsize smaller vessels, and injure others. Follow posted limits, slow down in crowded or narrow areas, and remain mindful of your wake," the post said.

"Nighttime operations require extra caution," state police said. "Reduced visibility and increased difficulty judging distance and speed make hazards harder to detect. Always maintain a safe speed, use proper navigation lights, and stay alert to surrounding traffic and debris to avoid potential dangers. Life jackets save lives. Wear a properly fitted personal flotation device every time you’re on the water. Most boating fatalities involve individuals who were not wearing one."

"Pay attention," state police said. "Distracted boating is dangerous. Keep your eyes on the water, scan for hazards, avoid distractions like phones while operating, and always have a dedicated lookout."

The Ocean County Sheriff's Office on Sunday said, "We remind the public to be responsible while operating a boat whether you're at Tices Shoal today or anywhere. Operating a boat should be like operating a vehicle."

Berkeley Township officials say they want more to be done to ensure the markers are properly maintained to prevent further tragedies.

The council passed a resolution asking the state and the federal government to create comprehensive statewide inspections of the navigation lanes, which are maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers.

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