Zeina Mahafzah, Wayne, NJ teen killed by boat propeller trying to get off raft in waters off Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars Boro. Boat safety would’ve required boat engine to be turned off. Initial reports stated the boat’s driver as the girl’s father. Police to date released limited information.
A New Jersey teen girl trying to board a boat from a raft was killed when she was struck by the propeller over the weekend.
Zeina Mahafzah, 18, from Wayne, was struck in the waters off Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars Boro, Ocean County around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday.
New Jersey State Police said Mahafzah was on a raft being pulled by the boat and was attempting to board the vessel, only to be fatally struck by the vessel’s propeller.
Why wasn’t the boat’s engine turned off?
Not immediately clear was who was driving the boat along with how many people were on the vessel.
NBC 10 Philadelphia initially reported that the teen was dismembered while her dad drove the boat. Police to date released ‘limited information’ and would not confirm who was driving the boat, nor who witnessed the ‘boating accident‘.
Of note, responding medics treated ‘shocked’ individuals who witnessed the teen’s tragic death.
It remained unclear why the boat’s engines were still turned on as the girl attempted to get back on the boat from the raft.
To date no charges were made. Authorities declined to assign blame on the girl or the individual commanding the boat, pending further investigation.
‘As the investigation is in its preliminary stages, we ask that you keep the family and community in your thoughts and prayers,’ Harvey Cedars Police Department said in a Facebook release.
Mahafzah recently graduated from Wayne Hills High School and was set to attend Rutgers University. The teen had yet to decide on her major.
‘We have been in contact with the family and are respecting their wishes, so we have no comment at this time,’ Wayne Township Superintendent Mark Toback told NJ.com.
Sunset Park is on the bay side of Harvey Cedars, located on the northern section of Long Beach Island.
Authorities continue to investigate.
