TOMS RIVER, N.J. — A deadly boating crash near the Jersey Shore has resulted in a homicide charge more than a month after a 26-year-old passenger was killed when a motorboat slammed into a channel marker.
Kevin Wells, 40, was arrested Friday and charged with vessel homicide in connection with the July 25 crash near Toms River. Authorities allege Wells was operating the 32-foot Boston Whaler while intoxicated when the boat struck the marker.
The impact proved fatal for Michael T. Bereheiko, a 26-year-old construction worker from Green Brook.
Two other 27-year-old men were seriously injured in the crash, while a 24-year-old woman also suffered injuries, according to police.
The case has added another tragic chapter to what authorities describe as a series of deadly boating crashes along the Jersey Shore this summer.
26-Year-Old Passenger Dies After Channel Marker Collision
According to authorities, the crash happened on July 25 when Wells’ boat struck a channel marker.
After the collision, authorities said Wells took the damaged vessel to a nearby residence in Toms River. First responders then transported the injured victims to nearby hospitals. Bereheiko was pronounced dead shortly afterward.
His death left family and friends mourning a young man remembered for both his athletic ability and his love of the Jersey Shore.
According to his obituary, Bereheiko had been a star high school football player and enjoyed spending time along the shore, where he could relax, laugh and spend time with people close to him.
His family remembered him as someone who valued those moments, making the circumstances surrounding his death even more painful.
Wells Faces Multiple Charges in Deadly Crash
Wells was arrested Friday and faces several serious charges stemming from the collision. Court records show he was charged with reckless vessel homicide and two counts of assault by vessel while intoxicated or refusing a blood alcohol test.
Authorities have alleged that intoxication played a role in the crash. Wells could not be reached for comment, and court records did not make clear who was representing him.
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He is expected to appear in Ocean County Court for a hearing. The charges remain allegations, and the case will proceed through the court system.
Third Deadly Jersey Shore Boating Crash This Summer
Wells’ case comes after two other fatal boating incidents along the Jersey Shore involving allegations of intoxicated operation.
Jennifer Pearson, 59, was charged in connection with the Memorial Day death of her 28-year-old son, Gunnar Pearson, following an allegedly intoxicated boating crash.
Another deadly collision occurred on July 19, when Stephen Schneider, 64, was charged after two of his grandchildren died in a boating crash on Barnegat Bay. Police alleged Schneider was driving the boat while intoxicated.
Both of those crashes, like the incident involving Wells, involved boats striking channel markers.
The repeated circumstances have drawn attention to the dangers of operating boats while impaired, particularly during the busy summer boating season along the Jersey Shore.
Investigation and Court Proceedings Continue
The latest case underscores how quickly a summer outing on the water can turn into a devastating tragedy.
For Bereheiko’s loved ones, the focus remains on remembering the young man whose life ended at just 26 years old. For investigators and prosecutors, the case will now move forward in court as Wells faces the homicide and assault charges.
The July crash is also part of a disturbing pattern of fatal boating incidents that authorities say could have been prevented. As the legal process continues, Wells is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
What do you think can be done to prevent more deadly boating crashes along the Jersey Shore? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
