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.
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.
RELATED STORIES
“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."
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.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKynZpOke7a3jqecsKtfZoZ6fJVua2ign6e%2FqrLInGSmp52au7V507CmZqWVo3qivsRmoqKknJqxbsPHnqVmrJiatrN50qmcnpySpK61ecWloJ6rXaSzp3nToZxmr5GpsrN5wKebZp6cnr20ec6vnKtlmaN6coSPpqehZaOirrS0jg%3D%3D