A 59-year-old New Jersey mother was allegedly drunk at the helm when her boat slammed into a channel marker on Memorial Day, killing her 28-year-old son.Jennifer L.Pearson, 59, is charged with death by vessel, a second-degree offense; operating a vessel under the influence; reckless operation of a vessel; operating a vessel without a Boating Safety Certificate; and failure to have a proper lookout, according to a New Jersey State Police news release.On Memorial Day at around 5:45 p.m., Pearson was boating in Barnegat Bay near the Brant Beach Yacht Club in Long Beach when she allegedly smashed her 23-foot center console into the marker sending her son, Gunnar Pearson, 28, and his girlfriend flying into the water, according to charging documents obtained by NJ101.5.COLLEGE STUDENT'S FATAL CANOE TRIP TAKES TURN AFTER LONE SURVIVOR IS ARRESTED MONTHS LATERGunnar Pearson was rushed to the hospital, but later died.
Four others were hospitalized with minor injuries.Pearson voluntarily surrendered at New Jersey State Police Troop "C" Tuckerton Station on Wednesday, Aug.
19, state police said.Jennifer L.Pearson, 59, has been charged with death by vessel, a second-degree charge, operating a vessel under the influence, reckless operation of a vessel, operating a vessel without a Boating Safety Certificate, and failure to have proper lookout in the Memorial Day crash.
(Ocean County Jail)FOLLOW US ON XAccording to court documents cited by NJ 101.5, Pearson's blood alcohol level registered between .09 and .12, just above the legal limit of .08.Investigators detected the smell of alcohol when she arrived to speak with them, and she told them she had consumed two alcoholic drinks earlier that afternoon.CLICK HERE FOR MORE U.S.
NEWSPearson is being held at the Ocean County Jail.Gunnar Pearson, 28, died in the hospital from his injuries following the Memorial Day crash.(Jennifer Pearson/Facebook)GET BREAKING NEWS ALERTSAccording to an online obituary, Gunnar, who was described ...