Man Was Intoxicated In 3rd Fatal Boating Crash At The Jersey Shore: Court Docs

TOMS RIVER, NJ — A North Jersey man has been charged with operating a vessel under the influence in a Barnegat Bay boating crash that killed one man and injured three other people, the third fatal crash on the bay in 2026.

Kevin M. Wells, 40, of Warren was taken into custody on Friday, according to Ocean County jail records. He has been charged with one count of vehicular homicide, and two counts of assault by auto/vessel, according to jail records.

He was driving a 32-foot Boston Whaler when he hit a channel marker along the Intracoastal Waterway shortly before 11 p.m. on July 27, state police said at the time.

After the collision, Wells drove the vessel to a residence on Silver Lagoon Drive in Toms River, where emergency personnel responded to render aid.

Michael T. Bereheiko, 26, from Green Brook, was taken to an area hospital, where he was pronounced dead, state police said.

Steven Pochick, 27, of Green Brook, and Nicholas Cherasaro, 27, of North Plainfield, suffered serious injuries and were taken to a hospital, state police said, and Sarah Stuhl, 24, of Bayville, suffered minor injuries.

According to Ocean County jail records, Wells is charged with vehicular homicide under NJ state statute 2C:11-5A, death by auto or vessel when it is caused by driving a vehicle or vessel recklessly.

The assault by auto charge, 2C:12-1C(2), includes a reference to R.S. 39:4-50, which is driving while intoxicated.

Wells is the third person charged in connection with fatal boating crashes on Barnegat Bay this summer.

Jennifer L. Pearson, 59, of Barnegat, was charged Aug. 18 with death by vessel, a second-degree charge, and operating a vessel under the influence, in the May 25 crash that killed her 28-year-old son, Gunnar.

And Stephen C. Schneider, 64, was charged in the July 19 boating crash on Barnegat Bay not far from his Bayville home that killed his grandchildren, Mya and Sigmund Golabek. Authorities say he was intoxicated at the time of the crash.