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Crystal Lake

Police & Fire
Dirt-Biking Trespasser Killed At Popular Jersey Shore Site, Cops Say Dirt-Biking Trespasser Killed At Popular Jersey Shore Site, Cops Say
Dirt-Biking Trespasser Killed At Popular Jersey Shore Site, Cops Say A Brooklyn man died after crashing his dirt bike at a popular site at the Jersey Shore where police say trespassing is illegal. Joseph W. Maffia, 28, was riding a blue 2024 Yamaha YZ450F when he hit the crest of a hill and dropped ten feet into a sand embankment at ASARCO, or Heritage Minerals, in Manchester Township, ejecting him from the bike, just before noon on Saturday, March 15, police said. Other dirt bike riders found Maffia unresponsive, face down in the sand, and started life-saving measures, police said. He was wearing a DOT-approved helmet but suffered severe injuries and was ru…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
Kayaker Who Drowned In NJ Lake Wasn't Wearing Life Preserver, Investigators Say Kayaker Who Drowned In NJ Lake Wasn't Wearing Life Preserver, Investigators Say
Kayaker Who Drowned In NJ Lake Wasn't Wearing Life Preserver, Investigators Say Authorities have identified the Old Bridge man who drowned when his kayak capsized in Jackson Township. Search and rescue divers found the body of 29-year-old John Pereira in Prospertown Lake on Sunday, Aug. 4, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley Billhimer said in a news release. He was first reported missing at around 2 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3. Witnesses told Jackson Township police that Pereira was not wearing a life preserver and they believed he drowned. The search was suspended in the evening due to severe weather and Pereira's body was recovered at around 3:55 p.…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Police ID Drowning Victim At Dangerous NJ Lake As 18-Year-Old Trespasser Police ID Drowning Victim At Dangerous NJ Lake As 18-Year-Old Trespasser
Police ID Drowning Victim At Dangerous NJ Lake As 18-Year-Old Trespasser A teen swimmer has died after being pulled from a notoriously dangerous and privately owned lake in Manchester Township. Victor Arias-Peralta, 18, of Perth Amboy drowned at Crystal Lake on Monday, July 29, the Manchester Township Police Department said in a news release.  Investigators said Arias-Peralta was with a group that trespassed on the Heritage Mineral property at around 6 p.m. Arias-Peralta and a friend tried to swim across the lake when Arias-Peralta suffered from "severe fatigue" and became distressed about 20 yards from the shore. Friends…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Muscle Cramp Drowns Trespasser, 33, At Crystal-Clear NJ Lake Popularized On TikTok Muscle Cramp Drowns Trespasser, 33, At Crystal-Clear NJ Lake Popularized On TikTok
Muscle Cramp Drowns Trespasser, 33, At Crystal-Clear NJ Lake Popularized On TikTok The body of a 33-year-old man was recovered from a privately-owned tract of land in New Jersey that rose to popularity during the pandemic on TikTok. Edwin Toro-Mejia "unlawfully" visited the 7,000-acre Heritage Mineral property and was trying to swim with others around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, June 22, Manchester police said in a news release. Toro-Mejia and a juvenile family member were attempting to cross Crystal Lake when Toro-Mejia appeared to suffer from a muscle cramp in his leg and went into distress approximately 30 yards from the shoreline. Family members went to the aid of Toro-Mejia…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
200 Trespassers Busted At NJ 'Hidden Gem' Popularized On TikTok 200 Trespassers Busted At NJ 'Hidden Gem' Popularized On TikTok
200 Trespassers Busted At NJ 'Hidden Gem' Popularized On TikTok Police issued 131 tickets to trespassers found on boats and ATVs at a private property along the Jersey Shore popularized on TikTok. Noise complaints brought multiple police agencies to Heritage Minerals — commonly known as Crystal Lake — on Saturday, July 30, where they found nearly 200 people in ATVs, boats and cars all around the lake, Manchester police said. Originally operated by American Smelting and Refining Company, Inc., the property was sold to and subsequently operated by Heritage Minerals until the cessation of mining operations in the early 1980s.  It's since remained closed f…

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by Cecilia Levine
Police & Fire
1 Dead After Off-Road Vehicle Overturns In NJ 'Hidden Gem' Crystal Lake Popularized On TikTok 1 Dead After Off-Road Vehicle Overturns In NJ 'Hidden Gem' Crystal Lake Popularized On TikTok
1 Dead After Off-Road Vehicle Overturns In NJ 'Hidden Gem' Crystal Lake Popularized On TikTok One person died after an off-roading vehicle with four occupants overturned this weekend into a Jersey Shore lake that became popular on TikTok. Earlier this year, one person drowned at the same, privately-owned former mining property in Ocean County. The incident occurred Saturday evening, when the utility terrain vehicle overturned and became submerged in 25 feet of water -- James Grover, 62, still attached by his seatbelt, NJ.com reports. Grover was pronounced dead at the scene, and authorities believe he drowned, the article says. Two other occupants and the driver were able to escape…

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by Cecilia Levine
News
Man Drowns In NJ 'Hidden Gem' Popularized On TikTok Man Drowns In NJ 'Hidden Gem' Popularized On TikTok
Man Drowns In NJ 'Hidden Gem' Popularized On TikTok A 23-year-old Plainfield man drowned at a former mining property in Ocean County, authorities said. The body of Edwin Caballero was pulled from Crystal Lake at the Heritage Mineral property in Manchester Sunday morning, Manchester Township police said. Several videos of Crystal Lake have been popping up on social video-sharing platform TikTok, calling the spot a "hidden gem." A Manchester Township police spokesperson warned, though, the water can be "very unpredictable and dangerously unstable." "Those entering the water will quickly realize that after taking a few steps in the soft, unsta…

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by Cecilia Levine