Fatal Boat Crash on Navesink: Victim Found, Identified and DWI Arrest Made

After a boat crash late last night sent the driver of a Stingray missing in the waters of the Navesink River, Middletown, and a search was launched that lasted into the morning hours, NJ State Police found and identified the victim and made an arrest in connection with the fatal accident.

Christopher Plant, 50, of Keansburg, was found at about 8:30 a.m. when he was pronounced dead upon recovery on the river.

The accident occurred at 11:32 p.m. on Saturday night when a Boston Whaler, occupied by five people, crashed into a Stingray occupied by two — Plant, its driver, and a passenger, State Police Sgt. Brian Polite said.

“Everyone from the Boston Whaler was ejected as a result of the impact made when it collided with the Stingray,” Polite added. “However, everyone on that boat made it back aboard with minor injuries. The driver of the Stingray (Plant) never made it back on that boat, though. The other person on the Stingray was neither ejected nor injured.”

A search for the missing Stingray driver, which turned out to be Plant, was conducted throughout the night and into the morning hours when Plant was found, Polite said, by a NJ State Police aviation unit. The state Marine Police retrieved the body.

The driver of the Boston Whaler that struck the Stingray, catapulting Plant into the water, has so far been charged with driving (the vessel) while intoxicated.

That driver was identified as George Harrington, 39, of Atlantic Highlands.

The accident is still under investigation by the NJ State Police and an autopsy to determine Plant’s exact cause of death is scheduled for tomorrow morning, Sgt. Polite said.

“Since it is still under investigation, additional charges could be pending,” he added. “We’re not ruling out anything yet.”