By: Tracie Carter
Mr. Jeffrey M. Jastrzembski, a 53-year-old resident of Atlantic City, was arrested on Thursday, January 11, 2024, and charged with first-degree Aggravated Manslaughter.
The charge is in connection with a deadly boating crash that occurred on August 12, 2023, on the Intercoastal Waterway near the Albany Avenue Bridge in Atlantic City.
The incident, which took place at approximately 5:14 p.m., involved Jastrzembski allegedly operating a boat at high speed towards the docks.
He is accused of making an aggressive port-side turn, resulting in the boat’s propeller striking and fatally injuring 70-year-old Norma Michaels, also from Atlantic City.
Further investigation into the accident revealed that at the time of the crash, Jastrzembski’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was between 0.19% and 0.23%.
This finding was a key factor in the case, which was jointly investigated by the Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office Fatal Crash Investigation Unit and the New Jersey State Police.
It is important to note that the charges against Jastrzembski are merely accusations, not proof of guilt. In the American criminal justice system, a defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Atlantic County Prosecutor’s Office is seeking information from the public regarding this case or other serious crimes.
Individuals with relevant information are encouraged to contact the Prosecutor’s Office at 609-909-7800 or submit a tip anonymously via the ACPO.Tips website.
Additionally, Crime Stoppers, which can be reached at 609-652-1234 or 1-800-658-8477 (TIPS) and through their website at http://www.crimestoppersatlantic.com/, is also available for anonymous tips.
Crime Stoppers offers cash rewards for information leading to the arrest and indictment of individuals responsible for committing crimes in Atlantic County.