A New Jersey teenager died when she struck a boat propeller while trying to climb onto the vessel from a raft.
Zeina Mahafzah, 18, was struck in the water at Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars Boro, Ocean County around 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
According to New Jersey State Police, Mahafzah was on a raft being towed by a boat. When she tried to get on board, she was fatally struck by the propeller.
It is not known how many people were on board and who was steering the boat, but NBC Philadelphia reported that doctors were examining other people on board who witnessed the teenager’s death.
“As the investigation is still in its preliminary stages, we ask that you please keep the family and community in your thoughts and prayers,” Harvey Cedars Police said.
Zeina Mahafzah (pictured), 18, died after she hit a boat propeller while trying to climb onto the vessel from a raft
Mahafzah was struck around 4:30 p.m. Sunday in the waters off Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars Boro, Ocean County
Mahafzah recently graduated from Wayne Hills High School and is expected to attend Rutgers University.
In a video of the Wayne Hills class of 2024 deciding on her college major, she wore a red T-shirt and said she was going to college without knowing what she wanted to study.
“We have been in contact with the family and respect their wishes, so we have no comment at this time,” said Mark Toback, Wayne Township superintendent. NJ.com.
Sunset Park is located on Harvey Cedars Bay, on the northern part of Long Beach Island.
She (pictured with her father) recently graduated from Wayne Hills High School and is expected to attend Rutgers University.
In a video about the Wayne Hills class of 2024 college decision, she wore a red T-shirt and said she was entering college as someone who didn’t yet know what she wanted to study.
In June, a young woman was killed when a boat driver turned too fast and collided with another vessel while she was tubing.
Kaileigh Seidel, 24, died on June 22 from injuries she sustained in the crash on the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon.
Police said she was “thrown” from the boat around 8pm, but her friend Millie Lovea, who was on board and watched helplessly, blamed the driver.
Lovea said the driver was “swimming back and forth through the river” and took a turn too fast, causing the inner tube — and Seidel — to end up in the other boat.