Stephen Schneider Charged in New Jersey Boat Crash That Killed 2 Children

Q: What crucial safety measure was ignored moments before a grandfather's boat crash claimed the lives of his two young grandchildren?

The key safety measure ignored was staying sober and using a designated sober operator before taking the boat out. Authorities charged Stephen Schneider with operating a vessel under the influence after investigators said he was intoxicated when his 30-foot boat struck a clearly marked channel marker at night in the Intracoastal Waterway on July 19. Police also said the marker’s lights were working properly, undercutting any suggestion that the obstruction was unlit or hidden. Boating-safety guidance cited in coverage of the case stresses that alcohol is a leading factor in fatal recreational boating accidents because it slows reaction time, impairs judgment, and makes nighttime navigation more dangerous. In practical terms, the crucial precaution would have been not allowing an impaired person to captain the vessel and instead relying on a sober driver. Reports also indicate that at least one child may have had a life jacket nearby, but the central lapse identified by investigators was impaired operation of the boat, not a failure of the channel marker or its lighting.

3 articles · Updated · WPVI-TV · Aug 15

Stephen Schneider, 64, was charged after prosecutors said he was intoxicated when his boat hit a channel marker in Barnegat Bay on July 19, killing two siblings, ages 7 and 9.
Two counts of reckless vessel homicide, operating a vessel under the influence and reckless operation were filed after the crash threw the children from the boat.
Police said the marker's lights were working properly at the time, narrowing the focus to Schneider's operation of the vessel.
The case stems from a nighttime crash in Berkeley Township, and New Jersey State Police said the investigation is still ongoing.