Lawsuit Seeks to Close Wildwood Beach Where Horsham Man Drowned

A Horsham woman has filed a lawsuit to close a portion of a New Jersey beach where her husband died in July 2012.

According to an Associated Press report, Sandra Smith, whose husband Brad died after walking in ankle deep water at the Hereford Inlet in North Wildwood, filed a suit Wednesday in state Superior Court.

The afternoon of the incident, Smith was walking along the shore with his 7-year-old daughter, his friend and his friend’s young child. The sand caved in, pulling them out to sea, according to reports at the time of the incident. His daughter was rescued but Smith’s body washed ashore four days later.

The suit, filed against North Wildwood, Cape May County and the state of New Jersey, claims there was negligence in allowing a dangerous condition to exist in areas were swimmers were present, the AP reported.

“The city of North Wildwood takes its beach protection responsibilities quite seriously,” North Wildwood Mayor Patrick Rosenello told the AP. “In fact, there has never been a drowning incident at a protected beach in the City of North Wildwood in its 100-plus years of existence.”

Smith was a family business owner.  He was the owner of Brad’s Turnpike Automotive Shop in Horsham, which he operated with his son.

The second annual golf outing in Brad Smith’s memory is planned for Sept. 5. Money raised goes to support her younger children’s education. 

Visit golf4brad.com for details.