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Baristanet sends condolences to the family of Robert Post, who was killed over the weekend in a hit-and-run boating accident near Brick Township. Post, 49, was a resident of Essex Fells.
He is remembered fondly by FrankGG, a longtime friend, who wrote:
What a tragedy, sad and incredible. Bobby Post was a wonderful, bright and good person. He was a gentleman even as a schoolboy.
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Comments (27)
Heartfelt condolences to the family. I hope they find and fully prosecute the person responsible.
Perhaps we will eventually see boaters put in the same category as drivers and will be required to have a license, understand the waterway rules and signs and be expected to pass a basic skill test. Drinking while piloting a boat should also be illegal.
My condolences to the family. They should throw this guy in jail and throw away the key.
Agreed. At any rate, he should never allowed near a boat again unless it's to keelhaul him.
Unless I am mistaken (which is possible), I believe you do need a license, or at least have to take a course, in order to operate a boat. Laws vary by state, though.
What a tragedy. I send my condolences and prayers to Mr. Post's family and friends.
I agree with JG that this should spur action to improve the regulation of boat piloting.
I believe those suggestions are already the case, jerseygurl.
Good to see everyone will soon need to take basic boating courses, looks as though in NJ the oldest age group will have to comply by June of next year.
Oh, how sad. What a senseless tragedy. Sincere condolences to the family.
I know the Post family. Absolutely wonderful people. Mr. Post was a tremendous family man and the definition of a nice guy. He will be grately missed.
My condolences to the family for their loss after this deplorable act.
As a boater, I am well acquainted with ignorant or drunk operators creating very dangerous conditions. As someone who grew up with boaters, I still took the Power Squadron course when I got my first boat (even though it was only a recommendation to take a safety course, not a requirement).
JG, the reasoning behind staggering the course compliance was not to overwhelm the system, with older boaters last as they probably had the most experience. The license (and fee)went into effect immediately, it is an endorsement on your DL.
Thanks Pokey. My boat is in MA, I will no longer sail on summer weekends from mid-July through the end of August. The sound is full of accidents waiting to happen with huge power boats driving in circles with kids on those big plastic things and much beer and booze in evidence. Then there are the jetskis. Everyone wants to go really fast, and get nowhere. It's really horrible when someone reckless can get away with doing something like ramming another boat, kill someone and injure others and then get away with it. This is really deplorable - the fact that who ever did this didn't even call for help. Ugly, sad.
That poor family.
They've impounded a speed boat that "might" be the one. I certainly hope it turns out to be it.
I am a summer resident of the area and know it very well. The spot where the boat was hit also happened to be a "Slow No Wake Zone" so considering this was a cigarette boat they should have been going under 1500 (around 10 mph)or so RPMs when in fact they were going 70 mph. Cigarette boats should be outlawed in the Bay; their hulls fly up to the sky when they accecelerate and they can not see in front of them. Almost all boat accidents involve them. They belong in the ocean where small crafts aren't. I feel badly for the family.
I know the family and am stunned by this tragic loss of life. 15 years ago, while at a friends house in Normandy, I awoke to the same accident. The police were dragging the waters looking for a missing passanger. The victims were riding in a similar whaler late at night and were run over by a speed boat. I really am saddened by this avoidable event.
This mornings StarLedger story about the seized boat reminds me of the saying "there are three sides to any story; yours, mine and the truth." (the third commenter down after the story reminds me of somebody...)
Of course one is innocent until proven guilty - but if one has hit something large enough to put a hole in your boat large enough to take in water, the boat was definitely not paying attention to the slow no wake sign, and the going home and NOT calling any authorities that something was hit is most suspicious. Eliminates the possiblity of a sobriety test.
The Star Ledger article is a bit confusing. It states that the 29 year old owner of the boat contacted authorities through his attorney but then states that the owner's father contacted the attorney when friends told him about the accident. So it appears that the owner was not forthcoming at all. He hid the boat in dad's garage and did not tell dad about the accident. Leaving the scene knowing he had an accident is completely inexcusable. But when the "I panicked" excuse is offered his actions the next morning should clearly shine the light on his immoral, reprehensible criminal behavior. jerseygirl is right on point here. Everything about it is suspicious. He made sure there would not be a sobriety test by waiting until the next day but even then he displayed a total lack of conscience by hiding the evidence and saying NOTHING to anyone. He deserves the maximum sentence. Robert's widow and two sons deserve nothing less!
Hopefully when the authorities explain her complicity in a hit and run accident that resulted in death and serious injury the girlfriend will be forthcoming about the boat owner's sobriety and why she too remained silent. Looks like her moral compass needs a check up too!
29 and he hides the boat in his daddy's garage? Grow up!
You are so right Mrs M! Hide the evidence in daddy's garage and let daddy take care of his problems. And daddy did just that. Even though daddy and the family "are destroyed, not for themselves but for those families", daddy made sure he had an attorney experienced with boaters who kill other boaters before the cat got out of the bag. Such a good daddy!
The incident occured at 1:15 AM - did both boats have the proper running lights?
Spectator...a good point and it has been raised....and reported as not known in the last article though it is also reported that the runaway boater claims his were on. That being said, Spectator, the absence of running lights on the victim's boat might have given the runaway boater a chance to call the event an accident if he had stayed on the scene, acted responsibly and showed the concern one who admittedly says he hit something should show. He didn't. He ran and he hid. He should be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible!
FrankGG - I'm sorry for the loss of your friend.
Thank you Anne Prince for your thoughtfulness.
I think there was a custodian at Brookdale School in Bloomfield by the name of Mr. Post. Was this man any relation?
I'm sorry hidinginb-ville, I don't know.
I was so sorry to hear about this tragedy. It all just seems so bizarre. My heartfelt condolences to family and loved ones.