Community members heartbroken after 18-year-old man dies in local pond
Jones Pond, also known as Jones Woods, is a nature preserve in Morris Township and officials say that swimming, boating and water activities are prohibited.
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Authorities are investigating the death of 18-year-old Hillario Manuel Mendez-Vincente, from Morris Township, after he drowned in Jones Pond on the Fourth of July.
Jones Pond, also known as Jones Woods, is a nature preserve in Morris Township and officials say that swimming, boating and water activities are prohibited. Community members told News 12 the pond is a local hotspot for teenagers.
Neighbors say they were heartbroken to hear what happened and hope more deaths can be prevented.
Gretchen Glover saw the deadly incident unveil Saturday evening. In her nearly 15 years of living in Morris Township, she says she has never seen anything like this before.
"No one heard anything and then all of a sudden two officers came running," Glover said. "...I feel terrible. The pond back there is really an oasis for the local kids in the summer. And it's just a tragedy that there is so much sadness around it now."
Neighbors described the pond as a hidden gem in the community. Darin Williams remembers hanging out and swimming in the water when he was a teen. But now a dad himself, he has a different opinion of the pond.
"I have two children, one is 20 and one is 15, and I've always raised them not to swim there," Williams said.
According to Morris Township Administrator Timothy Quinn, the area is regularly patrolled by police and recreation employees, especially on warm days.
"I do anticipate additional signage to reinforce the prohibition on water activities," Quinn said in a statement.
There is a sign just ahead of the pond telling people not to swim. Williams and Glover both acknowledge that the signs should focus on the danger below the water.
"I think there does need to be a sign about the drain in the middle of the pond because that was surprising to me cause that does introduce a level of danger that I don't think most of us know about," Glover said.
"People don't realize the danger and how fast drowning can happen. That's deep dark water you go under, and no one can see you, and it can happen so quickly," Williams said.
The prosecutor's office says foul play is not suspected.
