Two young children, a nine-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy, tragically lost their lives when the boat they were aboard collided with an Intercoastal Waterway channel marker in Berkeley Township, New Jersey. The incident occurred on a 30-foot Tidewater Custom 280 boat on Saturday night, leading to the children being thrown into the water.
Reports indicate that the boat operator, Stephen Schneider, 63, and another passenger, Laurie Schneider, 64, found the children unresponsive in the water following the collision. The couple is believed to be the grandparents of the deceased children, according to sources.
Before the accident, the group had been at MJ’s Restaurant Bar and Grill. The children were rushed to the hospital after the collision, where they were later pronounced dead by officials.
New Jersey State Police responded to the tragic event, stating that the vessel crash occurred in the Berkeley Township Bay Area. The preliminary investigation revealed that the boat struck the channel marker, causing the children to be ejected into the water. The authorities mentioned that the incident is still under investigation, and no further details are available at this time.