A 59-year-old New Jersey woman is facing serious criminal charges after a Memorial Day boating crash in Barnegat Bay killed her son and sent several others to the hospital.
Jennifer L. Pearson was charged with death by vessel, a second-degree offense, along with operating a vessel under the influence, reckless operation of a vessel, operating a vessel without a boating safety certificate, and failure to have a proper lookout. The charges stem from a crash on May 26 at around 5:45 p.m. near the Brant Beach Yacht Club in Long Beach.
According to charging documents obtained by NJ 101.5, Pearson allegedly steered her 23-foot center console boat into a channel marker, sending her son, Gunnar Pearson, 28, and his girlfriend into the water. Gunnar was rushed to a hospital and later died. Four other people were hospitalized with minor injuries.
Pearson voluntarily surrendered to New Jersey State Police at the Troop C Tuckerton Station on Wednesday, Aug. 19. Court documents cited by NJ 101.5 showed her blood alcohol level registered between .09 and .12, just above the legal limit of .08. Investigators detected the smell of alcohol when she arrived to speak with them, and she told them she had consumed two alcoholic drinks earlier that afternoon. Pearson is being held at the Ocean County Jail.
According to an online obituary, Gunnar Pearson had recently completed renovations on his first home in Forked River. He was described as an avid outdoorsman who loved skiing, fishing, boating, running, and hunting. The obituary described him as "kind, funny, and deeply caring."
"He found his greatest joy in spending time with those he loved — whether at home, on the beaches of Long Beach Island, on the ski slopes of Stratton, Vermont, or during family vacations in Maine. These moments together meant everything to him and will remain treasured by those who were fortunate enough to share them," the obituary said.
New Jersey State Police said the investigation into the fatal crash is ongoing.
