Seventeen Year Old Airlifted After Being Ejected From Pick Up Truck in Erma

ERMA — On Saturday evening, Nov. 20, at approximately 11:50 p.m. the Lower Township Police Communications Center received a 9-1-1 call from the area of Oreo’s Pit reporting that a 17 year old male was ejected from the bed of a pick up truck that was jumping dunes in the area and that the boy was seriously injured.
Lower Township Police and Rescue Units responded to the large gravel pit area located just south of the Cape May Canal Railroad Bridge.
Police investigation on scene determined that Brian Kurtz, Jr., age 18 of the 600 Block of Crawford Road in the Erma Section of Lower Township, was operating a 1986 Chevy S10 pick up truck in the pit area with two 16-year-old males and one 17-year-old male riding in the bed of his truck.
Kurtz then accelerated up a large sand dune hill. Upon reaching the top of the hill, onepassenger jumped out of the back of the truck just before the vehicle went air born. At that time the 17-year-old passenger was ejected from the bed of the vehicle and fell a significant height before hitting the ground.
The pick up truck traveled approximately 41 feet through the air before forcibly striking the ground and breaking its frame before finally coming to rest approximately 100 feet away from the top of the sand hill.
The 17-year-old male was treated for his injuries which included a possible broken leg, by members of the Lower Township Rescue Squad and Paramedics, before being airlifted by South Star Medivac, to the Atlantic City Trauma Center.
The driver of the truck was issued motor vehicle summonses for Reckless Driving, Allowing Passengers to Ride on Parts Not Intended and Failure to Wear a Seat Belt.
The juvenile passengers who were riding in the bed of the truck were also issued motor vehicle summonses for riding on a Portion of the Vehicle Not Intended For Passengers.
The accident investigation was conducted by CPL. William Priole.