Two Die During Long Island Boat Race

A high-speed boat race in Great South Bay turned deadly when two men died after their boat overturned. The men were pronounced dead at the hospital, and the incident occurred during the "Battle of the Bay," for the second event of the MIss Geico Triple Crown. An investigation is being conducted, but Newsday reports witnesses said "the boat appeared to overturn while it made a southeastern turn on the race course." Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, who witnessed the race, said the boat was going 90-100 mph, "It's just tragic ... It doesn't get any worse than this. It's a dangerous sport."

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By Jen Chung in News on August 25, 2008 9:49 AM

Comments [rss]

NannyState

They died for the "Miss Geico triple Crown". Enough said.

Quenepa

Ironic that it is put together and sponsored by an insurance agency - who insures the racers lives? I doubt Geico does but I bet the boats were covered

NYer

"sport"?

Mostly cool people

Seriously. If you choose to climb into a paper-thin fiberglass shell and rocket around on water at 100 mph, don't expect me to shed any tears when this plan goes horrendously awry. I have as much sympathy for these people as I do for base jumpers, spelunkers, and crack dealers.

sweatyelectric

Darwin award.

ed_Extinct

that's 87 knots! holy crap, that's incredibly fast on the water. they hit that water like slamming into concrete... life jackets would have been useless.

r.i.p.