Two speedboat racers have died in a horror crash after their boat flipped while going at 180mph.
Experienced boaters James A. Melley, 49, and Garth Thomas Tagge, 61, were ejected from their vessel during the annual Potomac River Radar Run near Fairview, Maryland, US on Saturday.
4 The pair of experienced racers were tragically killed when their boat flipped and crashed
4 Onlookers watching the annual race believe the duo were travelling at 180mph
The pair, from Georgia, were well-known for hitting speeds of over 190mph.
“Everybody was just horrified,” said Guy Booth, co-owner of Tim’s II restaurant at Fairview, where fans had gathered to watch the race.
“My heart goes out to the families right now, that’s the ones that have to deal with it right now.”
Booth told wjla.com he believes the 36-foot offshore racing vessel was travelling at over 150 mph.
Witness Gary Howdyshell said: “I (saw) somebody doing a sport that they love and, unfortunately, it ended with a tragedy.”
4 Police are investigating the tragic crash which happened during the annual boat race on Saturday
4 The shocking footage shows the devastating moment the speedboat flips, throwing the pair from the vessel before smashing into the water
Maryland’s Natural Resources Police, which look after the state’s rivers, are investigating the accident.
ABC7 NEWS reported witnesses believe the pair were going at speeds of 180mph when the boat flipped.
Officials are reportedly still trying to determine if the men were participating in a sanctioned event.
