A nine-year-old girl and a seven-year-old boy were thrown into the water off Berkeley Township, New Jersey, after the boat they were on struck an Intercoastal Waterway channel marker
Two young children have tragically lost their lives after the boat they were on collided with a channel marker.
The nine-year-old girl and seven-year-old boy were thrown from a 30-foot Tidewater Custom 280 on Saturday night into the waters off Berkeley Township, New Jersey. State Police reported that the boat hit an Intercoastal Waterway channel marker, resulting in the children being ejected.
Boat operator Stephen Schneider, 63, and another passenger Laurie Schneider, 64, discovered the children unresponsive in the water, according to reports. The couple are thought to be the grandparents of the children, as per ABC7. Sources informed Jersey Shore Online that before boarding the boat, the group had been inside MJ’s Restaurant Bar and Grill.
Following the crash, the children were rushed to hospital where officials in the Garden State confirmed they were pronounced dead.
In a statement, the New Jersey State Police said: “On July 19, at approximately 9:09 pm, troopers responded to the report of a serious vessel crash in the Berkeley Township Bay Area.
“Based on a preliminary investigation, a Tidewater Custom 280 30-foot vessel, while travelling through the Intercoastal Waterway, struck an Intercoastal Waterway channel marker, causing a 9 year old juvenile female and a 7 year old juvenile male to be ejected into the water.
“The operator, Stephen Schneider, a 63 year old male from Bayville, NJ, and occupant Laurie Schneider, a 64 year old female from Bayville, found the juveniles unresponsive in the water.
“The youngsters were taken to a local hospital, where they were declared dead. This boat accident is still under investigation, and no further information is available.”
Meanwhile, flights have been cancelled at a major airport after a massive fire broke out nearby, with two firefighters sadly killed in the horror incident.
Local media is reporting that the fire started on Avenue Roland Garros, close to Bordeaux Airport’s long-term P4 car park, with the blaze already having spread across approximately one hectare after breaking out at around 2.30pm local time.
Two firefighters were killed while tackling the fire, confirmed France’s Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Flights departing from Bordeaux Airport have now been temporarily suspended, with multiple roads around the airport closed off for emergency services to attend the incident.
Firefighters are continuing to fight the flames as thick black smoke fills the sky, with the incident thought to now be under control. Flights are also now resuming at the airport.
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