Two young siblings, Mya Golabek, 9, and her brother Sigmund Golabek, 7, died after the boat they were on struck a channel marker in Barnegat Bay, New Jersey, on Sunday night. The children were ejected into the water and later pronounced dead.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. when the family’s 30-foot boat hit the marker, which State Police confirmed was fully functional and had its lights working at the time of the collision. The children’s grandparents, Steven Scheider, 63, and Laurie Schneider, 64, were on board and found the unresponsive children.
Heartbreaking photos shared by the children’s father, Sigmund Golabek, depict Mya and Sigmund enjoying boating excursions with their parents over several years, dating back to when they were infants. The images show the family smiling and embracing on boats.
According to their obituaries, Mya and Sigmund were described as "best friends" with a strong sibling bond, sharing "laughter, adventures, and countless memories."
The funeral for the siblings is scheduled to be held on Friday in Forked River, New Jersey. The crash remains under investigation, and no charges have been filed as of Friday, July 24.