One man is missing after a boat crashed late Sunday night, throwing its passengers overboard as they were traveling between two Jersey Shore towns.
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a 45-year-old man who disappeared into the bay around 11:30 p.m when a pontoon boat collided with an unlit buoy on near 11th Avenue in Longport, N.J., according to authorities.
The boater went into the water somewhere between 11th and 12th avenues.
Another man was also ejected from the boat. He was able to swim to the rocks, climb to the shore and notify police.
"I just heard a thud and then I heard, 'help, help, help' screaming," said Tom Murphy, who witnessed the event. "And then he started screaming his friend's name."
Police say the man who was able to get to shore suffered minor injuries and was treated by emergency medical personnel, who transported him to a local hospital.
USGC officials said they suspect neither man was wearing a lifejacket. Two lifejackets were recovered from the scene -- one from the water and another from the boat, they said.
It is unclear what caused the boating accident at this time.
Despite the late hour, there are no regulations prohibiting boating at night, according to officials.
A description of the missing boater has not yet been released.
At one point, rescue crews from the New Jersey State Police and the Longport Fire Department were in the water aiding the USCG in their search.
Stay with NBC10 for more on this developing story.
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