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A 59-year-old New Jersey resident has been charged with multiple offenses stemming from a fatal boating accident that claimed her son’s life on Memorial Day. Jennifer L. Pearson faces a second-degree death by vessel charge alongside counts of operating under the influence, reckless vessel operation, operating without proper certification, and failure to maintain adequate lookout, state police records show.
The collision occurred around 5:45 p.m. on Memorial Day in Barnegat Bay near the Brant Beach Yacht Club in Long Beach when Pearson’s 23-foot center console struck a channel marker. The impact ejected her 28-year-old son, Gunnar Pearson, and his girlfriend into the water, according to charging documents obtained by NJ 101.5.
Gunnar Pearson was transported to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. Four additional passengers sustained minor injuries in the incident. Blood alcohol testing revealed Pearson’s level between .09 and .12, above New Jersey’s legal limit of .08, and she reported consuming two drinks that afternoon.
Pearson surrendered voluntarily to state police on Wednesday, Aug. 19, at Troop C Tuckerton Station. She is currently detained at Ocean County Jail as authorities continue investigating the crash.
According to his obituary, Gunnar was described as a kind and caring individual who recently completed renovations on his first home in Forked River and enjoyed skiing, fishing, boating, running and hunting. He treasured time with family on Long Beach Island, Vermont ski slopes, and Maine vacations.
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