Teen Airlifted to Hospital After Accident

A 15-year-old boy was medevaced to a North Jersey hospital after an accident in a North Maplewood Drive home Tuesday afternoon.

Brick Police, fire and emergency medical personnel were dispatched to a home around 1:30 p.m. to investigate what they thought was a reported house fire. Patrolman George Williams and Deputy Chief James Riccio were the first to arrive, at which point they discovered the boy – whose name was not released – in front of the house with severe burns about his face and hands, according to Sgt. Keith Reinhard.

The residence was filled with smoke, but there was no active fire, Reinhard said.

It is believed the 15 year old was playing with some type of fuse for a model rocket which caused a small explosion, resulting in his injuries, said Reinhard.  The victim was able to call his mother at work, who in turn called 911 and drove home. 

The victim was airlifted from a landing zone at Brick Township High School to St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston via MONOC medevac helicopter. There was no one else in the residence at the time of the incident and there were no other injuries reported, Reinhard said.

The incident is currently under investigation by Brick Township Police Detective Mark Byrne and the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office Arson Unit.