State Police have released additional information in the boating accident that occurred in the Intracoastal waterway between Longport and Ocean City on Sunday.
State Police said there were no fatalities caused by the 5:30 p.m. accident but six people were injured.
The sixteen foot open cockpit boat which had seven people on board struck and intercoastal waterway marker injuring six people including an 8 year-old boy identified as Jared Ditzel.
State Police said Jared Ditzel’s mother, Jode Ditzel, 38, was operating the boat when the accident occurred. State Police are attributing the accident to operator error.
Jard Ditzel was airlifted to Cooper University Trauma Center from the Ocean City airport by South Star medevac. The flight crew reported Ditzel to be in stable condition and talking to them. He was reported to have been thrown to the front of the boat when it struck the channel marker. The boy’s father, Art Ditzel, flew on the helicopter, state police said.
State Police said four others whose names were not released were injured and were taken to Atlanticare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City.
State Police crime scene detectives were requested to the scene to take photographs. No charges have been filed.
The accident is under investigation by the State Police Marine Unit.
Follow Scheeler on Twitter at http://twitter.com/Harry_Scheeler
