Crime & Safety

Men Involved in Watercraft Collision Identified

Reconstruction team looking at circumstances of accident, police said

Written by Patch Editor Colleen Platt 

A fatal accident reconstruction team today is looking into the cause of a watercraft collision that led to the death of a Long Valley man and injured the man's brother.

Matthew Barther, 24, was pronounced dead at Community Medical Center last night, according to State Police Sgt. Chris Rogers. His brother Patrick, also of Long Valley, pulled him from the water after the 8 p.m. accident - which occurred just north of the Route 37 bridge - and brought him back to shore, police said.

Patrick Barther was treated and released from the same hospital last night.

Today, Rogers noted that the reconstruction team is working to investigate the collision. A medical examiner has yet to determine the official cause of death.

Police also confirmed today that a  jet ski located a short time after the accident on Rochester Road in Brick was one of the watercraft in the collision.


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