Girl, 11, Electrocuted Near Lagoon At Toms River Home: Police

TOMS RIVER, NJ — An 11-year-old girl from Newark has died after she touched a rail on a metal boat lift that had become energized, Toms River police said Sunday.

The girl was visiting friends at a home on Tobago Avenue in the Shelter Cove section of town when the incident happened shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday, Toms River police spokesman Ralph Stocco said.

She and two friends were using an inflatable raft and swimming in the lagoon behind the home, and the initial investigation indicates that two of the girls touched the rail to a metal boat lift. The railing had become electrified, however, and both girls were shocked, Stocco said. There was no indication of whether the third girl touched the railing as well. All three were wearing lifejackets and in the presence of adults who were supervising, Stocco said.

The adults performed CPR on the girl until police and Toms River EMS arrived and took over, he said. First responders used an automated external defibrillator to try to restore her heart rhythm and she was taken to Community Medical Center, Toms River, but died of her injuries later in the evening, Stocco said. The other two girls were evaluated at the scene but had suffered no injuries, he said.

The incident is under investigation by Toms River Police Detectives Louis Santora and James Carey. Also participating are Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Detective Woodfield and Ocean County Sheriff’s Department C.S.I. Sgt. Deleeuw and Officer Menke, he said.

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