The sisters were two of five people aboard a 15-foot powerboat that was hit head-on by a 31-foot Boston Whaler in 2009
An NYPD helicopter with rescue divers aboard takes off after two boats - a 16 foot Key West center console and a 30-foot Boston Whaler sportfisher collided on the Manasquan River between Brielle and Point Pleasant Beach on May 22, 2009. HACKENSACK -- A pair of sisters from Bergen County were awarded a total of $9 million for the critical injuries they suffered in a fatal boating crash in the Manasquan Inlet on Memorial Day weekend in 2009, according to a report.
A jury in Bergen County awarded damages to Jamie Franzino, 26, and Gina Franzino, 29, both of Mahwah, at the conclusion of a two-week trial, according to the NorthJersey.com report.
The sisters, along with three other people, were aboard a 15-foot Key West powerboat that was hit head-on by a 31-foot Boston Whaler on May 22, 2009, in the Manasquan Inlet between Brielle and Point Pleasant Beach.
One of the passengers, Kyle Tanis, 24, of Mahwah, was killed and the other four were injured. The Franzino sisters were trapped in the boat.
The operator of the Boston Whaler, Ed McCarthy, owner of McCarthy's Marine Sales in Brielle, was found liable for the crash after a trial in January, the report said.
MaryAnn Spoto may be reached at mspoto@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryAnnSpoto. Find NJ.com on Facebook.