Shocking video shows speedboat crash at 200 mph in Lake Havasu
A high-speed boat crash during the Desert Storm Shootout boating event in Lake Havasu, Arizona, on Saturday, left two drivers injured.
The incident was captured on camera and has since gained significant attention on social media.
Ray Lee, owner and publisher of Speedboat Magazine, described the moment, saying, "We saw the race team proceed down the course, and they started out really well. I mean, nothing out of the ordinary. And then it was about halfway, three-quarters way down the course when we saw the nose start to lift."
Ryan Olah, a technician for Freedom One Racing, detailed the crash, stating, "It actually did a complete flip and then a complete 360 and then came in backwards and upside down."
The Freedom One Racing team, based in Kansas City, Missouri, was participating in the event, where teams race one at a time to achieve the fastest speed over a three-quarter mile course. Olah noted that the boat was traveling over 200 miles per hour when it likely caught a gust of wind.
Lee, who was live streaming the event, recalled the crowd's reaction: "As soon as the boat took off, lifted into the air, there was audible gasps and then, you know we just kind of held our breath and hoped for the best."
Fortunately, both drivers managed to escape with only injuries, including broken bones and bruises. Olah reported, "Today they've been in great spirits joking around, you know, a little bit sore and banged up, but for the most part, I mean, they're happy, the boat can be fixed. It's all just parts and a little bit of time, so we were just glad that nobody had any major injuries."
In addition to racing, Freedom One Racing is committed to charity work, raising funds for local organizations in the cities where they compete. Following the Desert Storm Shootout, the team announced a donation of nearly $20,000 to local charities.