Man arrested in hit and run boating crash death

The New Jersey State Police arrested Shawn Kelly, 44 of Paramus, N.J., earlier this morning for a fatal hit-and-run boat crash as a result of a 23-month-long cooperative investigation with the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

On Monday, September 5, 2016, the New Jersey State Police Marine Services Bureau responded to a serious boat crash on Greenwood Lake in West Milford Township. Based on the investigation, at approximately 8:36 p.m., a 2003 18’ Bayliner boat owned by Edwin Lane, 72, of West Milford, N.J., was struck by another boat, which fled the scene after the crash.

There were four occupants on the boat, all of whom sustained injuries as a result of the collision. Edwin Lane and Robert Roon, 78, of Newfoundland, N.J., suffered serious injuries and were airlifted to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson, N.J. Mary Lane, 76, of West Milford, N.J., and Eileen Roon, 72, of Newfoundland, N.J., were transported by ambulance to St. Joseph’s Hospital where they were treated and released. Edwin Lane later died as a result of injuries on Saturday, October 8, 2016.

During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Shawn Kelly, 44, of Paramus, N.J., was alone on his boat, a 1988 20’ Wellcraft, traveling along the same path and direction as the victim’s boat on the evening of the crash. Kelly allegedly struck the victim’s boat, immediately leaving the scene. A subsequent accident reconstruction analyzing the damage to both vessels confirmed that Kelly’s boat was the hit-and-run vessel. Additionally, damage to Kelly’s boat was consistent with the corresponding damage sustained by Lane’s vessel.

Shawn Kelly was charged with death by vessel 2nd degree, leaving the scene of a boating accident resulting in death 2nd degree, assault by vessel 4th degree, and leaving the scene of a boating accident causing seriousl bodily injury 3rd degree, and assault by vessel. He was lodged at the Passaic County Jail where he awaits a bail detention hearing.

The New Jersey State Police Troop “B” Criminal Investigation Office, Fatal Accident Unit, Aviation Bureau, New York State Police, and West Milford Police Department assisted with this investigation. The case will be prosecuted by the Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office.

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