Speed May be Cause of Sea Isle Accident

An otherwise festive Memorial Day Weekend ended in complete tragedy for one family after the death of three brothers in a boating accident. Police do not believe that alcohol was a factor, but it's likely that speed was.

On Tuesday, the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit continued to search for the three brothers, who are missing and presumed dead. It was at 3:30 p.m. on Monday that their Douglas Skater Catamaran went out of control and crashed off the 78th Street Beach in Sea Isle City.

The victims have been identified as 35-year-old Jeffrey Malia from Glassboro, 32-year-old James from Williamstown, and 20-year-old Joel from Blackwood. The brothers were heading north to Brigantine to be with family members who had rented a beach house there.

The boat, which was named Bad Kat, was towed to a local marina to be examined. Police say that all of the life jackets were found sealed on board.

State police say all three brothers owned the high performance boat, which is valued at $400,000 and capable of hitting speeds of 142 miles per hour. Witnesses say the boat was going in excess of 80 miles per hour when it crashed.

Susan O'Brien, who was on the deck of her family's beach house on Memorial Day afternoon, says the boat went back and forth several times. But then, O'Brien says, her cousin actually saw the crash and called 911.

Police say the boat was purchased in Florida last fall, and this may have been the first outing for the brothers off the Jersey Shore. They say that the oldest brother Jeffrey may have been at the controls, but we may never know for sure. He had ten years of boating experience and previously owned a speedboat, but it was not as fast as the one that crashed on Memorial Day.

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Author: 6 ABC-AP