Morris County Teen Hospitalized After Post-Prom Fight In Seaside Heights

By Karen Wall

A Morris County man was hospitalized in critical condition after he was punched in the head by another teenager during a post-prom fight in a Seaside Heights motel on Sunday, authorities said.

The 18-year-old Morristown teen, whose name has not been released, was taken by helicopter to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune after the incident, which happened at 3:30 p.m., authorities said. His injuries are not life-threatening, they said.

Authorities were called to the Offshore Motel, 108 Boulevard, for a report of an injured person and found the 18-year-old, who was in Seaside Heights for a post-prom celebration, unconscious outside one of the rooms. Witnesses told police the teen had been punched in the head by another teenager who also was in Seaside Heights for the post-prom celebration. The two teens knew each other but were not friends, authorities said.

The teen accused of throwing the punch is from New Providence, authorities said. Because he is a juvenile he is not being identified but he has been charged with aggravated assault and is being held in the Ocean County Juvenile Detention Center, authorities said.

A source familiar with the incident said alcohol was a factor, with the victim being significantly impaired, the source said.