Teenager Killed in New Jersey Boating Accident

Authorities in New Jersey are investigating a "tragic boating accident" that left a teenage girl dead.

Zeina Mahafzah, an 18-year-old from Wayne, New Jersey, was attempting to board a boat from a raft being pulled by the boat in the waters off Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars, about an hour from Atlantic City, around 4:30 p.m. Sunday when she was struck by the vessel's propeller and fatally injured, New Jersey State Police said Monday.

Police said the incident is under investigation and no further information on the incident was immediately available.

While authorities did not share further details, NBC10 Philadelphia reported that the boat was being driven by her father and multiple others were traumatized in the accident and were later evaluated by EMS.

Community Mourns Loss

Harvey Cedars Police Department, in a post on X Sunday evening, said the department was investigating a "tragic boat accident off of Harvey Cedars in Long Beach Island" on Jersey Shore with the New Jersey State Police.

"As the investigation is in its preliminary stages, we ask that you keep the family and community in your thoughts and prayers," the department said in its post.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.