18-year-old fatally struck by boat propeller in New Jersey, police say

Authorities in New Jersey are investigating a "tragic boating accident" that left a teenage girl dead.

Zeina Mahafzah, an 18-year-old, from Wayne, New Jersey, was attempting to board a boat from a raft being pulled by the boat in the waters off Sunset Park in Harvey Cedars, about an hour from Atlantic City, around 4:30 p.m. Sunday when she was struck by the vessel's propeller and fatally injured, New Jersey State Police said Monday.

Police said the incident was under investigation and no further information on the incident was immediately available.

While authorities did not share further details, NBC10 Philadelphia reported the boat was being driven by her father and multiple others were traumatized in the accident and were later evaluated by EMS.

Thoughts and prayers for family

Harvey Cedars Police Department, in post on X Sunday evening, said the department was investigating a "tragic boat accident off of Harvey Cedars in Long Beach Island" on Jersey Shore with the New Jersey State Police.

"As the investigation is in its preliminary stages, we ask that you keep the family and community in your thoughts and prayers," department had said in its post.

Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.