Powerboat races in San Dimas canceled after contestant killed
A powerboat racing contest in San Dimas was canceled this past weekend after one contestant was killed and another injured during a practice-lap crash at Puddingstone Reservoir.
The two-boat collision occurred on the lake in Frank G. Bonelli Regional Park at about 11 a.m. Saturday, on the second day of the three-day event hosted by the Southern California Outboard Assn., park officials and authorities said.
According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, a lead boat lost control, causing a boat trailing the craft to crash into it.
The impact killed 64-year-old Gregory Wayne Belda of Los Angeles, who was piloting the lead boat, authorities said.
An official with the Los Angeles County coroner’s office said the cause of death was “multiple blunt force injuries,” and that the incident was ruled to be an accident.
The driver of the other boat suffered minor injuries and was taken to a hospital for treatment, authorities said.
The event was canceled after the incident “due to an ongoing investigation, and out of an abundance of caution for all event participants,” according to a news release from the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation.
“Our thoughts are with those affected by the accident,” Parks and Recreation Director Russ Guiney said in a statement.
“We are grateful for the efforts of our Lake Lifeguard Dive Team and other first responders at the scene,” Guiney said, “and are awaiting the outcome of the investigation that is now underway.”
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