Lakewood, NJ – A late-night snow-tubing incident turned dangerous Sunday when a man being pulled on a tube behind a vehicle was struck by another car and seriously injured, authorities said.
Emergency crews were called to the scene around 11:45 p.m. after reports of a pedestrian struck. Responders arrived to find a man suffering from severe injuries in the roadway. He was treated at the scene before being transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center.
The act is informally called skitching.
According to police, the victim had been riding on a snow tube attached to a moving vehicle when the tube veered into the opposite lane of travel and was struck by an oncoming car. The driver who had been towing the tube was charged for what police described as “illegal activity” related to the incident.
Lakewood Police Chief Greg Meyer said the crash serves as a stark warning about the dangers of towing people on public roads. “Towing a person behind a vehicle on a public roadway places everyone at risk and can easily result in serious injury or death,” Meyer said. “We strongly urge the public to refrain from engaging in this behavior and to use sound judgment at all times.”
This incident was reported by the Lakewood Scoop.
Key points:
- A man was seriously injured while snow-tubing behind a vehicle in Lakewood late Sunday night
- The tube crossed into the opposite lane and was struck by another car
- The driver towing the tube faces charges for illegal and dangerous behavior
Authorities said the injured man remains hospitalized as the investigation continues. Police reiterated that snow-related recreational activities should only take place in safe, designated areas—never on public roads.