Full Breakdown
Grandfather Charged After July 19 Barnegat Bay Boat Crash Kills Two Grandchildren
8/22/2026, 4:14:30 AM
Fatal Crash Details
On July 19 a 63-year-old man, Stephen Schneider of Bayville, was operating a Tidewater Custom 280 when it struck an Intracoastal Waterway channel marker in Barnegat Bay. The impact threw his 9-year-old granddaughter, Mya Golabek, and 7-year-old grandson, Sigmund Golabek, into the water; both were wearing life jackets but later died. Court documents state the vessel was traveling about 20 mph and that the channel marker’s lights were functioning at the time of the collision.
Legal Charges and Court Actions
Schneider faces two counts of death by vessel, operating a vessel under the influence, reckless operation of a vessel, and reckless vessel homicide. Prosecutors disclosed his blood-alcohol concentration was 0.16 %, twice New Jersey’s legal limit of 0.08 %. During a virtual hearing, Superior Court Judge Wendel Daniels granted conditional release, citing Schneider’s lack of prior criminal history and letters from the children’s parents requesting his freedom. Conditions prohibit him from operating any boat or motor vehicle while a court-ordered assessment is completed. His next court appearance is scheduled for Sept. 15 at 11 a.m.
Investigation Findings
Police reports indicate Schneider admitted to drinking three beers over two hours before the crash. The children’s parents arrived on a separate boat after dinner at MJ’s Restaurant & Bar in Bayville, intending to return with their grandparents. Schneider’s attorney argued the crash was unintentional and noted investigators are still reviewing whether the marker was illuminated at the moment of impact.
Broader Safety Context
The incident marks the fourth fatal boating collision on Barnegat Bay this summer, each involving a vessel striking a channel marker. Authorities have highlighted the pattern as a growing public-safety concern and are reviewing enforcement of boating-under-the-influence laws.
Upcoming Proceedings
Schneider remains under a court-ordered assessment and is barred from operating any vessel or motor vehicle pending further evaluation. The September hearing will determine whether additional restrictions or detention are warranted.
