LONG NECK – The victim in Saturday’s fatal boating accident in Sussex County has been identified as Gerry Aster, 78, of Phoenix, Ariz., DNREC Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police said today.

Mr. Aster was operating a personal watercraft (PWC) that collided with a pontoon boat at the entrance to the Pot-Nets Bayside community in Indian River Bay. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Witnesses told investigating NRP officers that a PWC returning to Pot-Nets Bayside collided with the bow of a pontoon boat leaving Pot-Nets Bayside about 11:30 a.m. The impact launched the PWC several feet over the pontoon boat before it came down in the water.

The operator of the pontoon boat, a 56-year-old Wilmington man, was flown to Christina Medical Center, where he was listed in stable condition. Two passengers on the pontoon boat – a 53-year-old Newark man and a 10-year-old Bridgeville boy – were uninjured.

The accident investigation is continuing.

Media contact: Sgt. John McDerby, Fish & Wildlife Natural Resources Police, 302-739-9913 or 302-354-1386, or Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 46, No. 344

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