Distillery Owner Badly Burned In Explosion Is Home Now

LACEY TOWNSHIP, NJ - One of the owners of the Island Beach Distillery says he will be working on getting the business open again, after the December explosion that left him badly burned.

"Hello all, it's been over 40 days since we had that accident in Island Beach Distillery," Peter Martorelli wrote on the Lacey Chatter Facebook page. "I wanted to update everyone and let you know I have been home from the hospital a week now. I'm healing very well and will be working on getting the distillery reopened in the upcoming weeks. I'll keep you posted."

Martorelli and his wife opened the popular business at 713 Old Shore Road back in the summer. But just two days before Christmas, there was an explosion in the distillery. Peter had multiple burns on his lower body and was quickly taken to St. Barnabas Burn Center in Livingston.

"Upon arrival, officers learned that a distillery within had exploded causing injury to the owner," Police Chief Michael C. DiBella has said. "The 38-year-old male from Forked River was conscious and alert, however sustained multiple burns to the lower half of his body. He was subsequently transported by Lacey EMS and MONOC paramedics to Saint Barnabas Burn Center in Livingston, NJ."

The Forked River and Lanoka Harbor fire departments responded and extinguished the blaze.

The Ocean County Prosecutor's Office and the Ocean County Sheriff's CSI Unit assisted in the investigation.

Photo: Courtesy of gofundme.