City officials shut the race down for investigation (separately reported with comments coming by Doug Krikorian..)

UPDATE: In a statement today provided to LBREPORT.com, Third District Councilwoman Suzie Price says: "This tragedy is absolutely disturbing and my heart goes out to the driver's family. Making sure a tragedy like this does not happen ever again is a priority for me. We must ensure we have a safety-first approach to any events similar to this in the future." END update

The event has been an annual LB tradition (interrupted in 2020 by the COVID pandemic) drawing large crowds for over 70 years.

In 2018, another speedboat driver died in a Sprint Nationals crash and in 2019 organizers agreed to new City-sought regulations for the event.

Long time area resident Tom Marchese was among witnesses and shared his reflections for LBREPORT.com (edited here):

Friends, I bow my head to pray again as I share with you my day at the races with my friends who won the event, Heath Hiebert and the GN 369 team. Sadly, the K boat race followed and in front of us we had a terrible collision that flipped and ejected a speedboat driver. I would say 50, crew men and women, and drivers, and racers, got into the water, dove in clothed, to fight to help get him out then up on a gurney and quickly into an EMT truck. Fabulous professionals rushed him to a trauma center unconscious and clinging to this Earth.

None of us know the day, or the time that we may be called to another place...None of us can say, please wait, when we are called to paradise, everlasting, many pray. And all of the money in the world, cannot one minute buy. I prayed and prayed, so did others.

'Please God, spare this soul?' I must have seen 100 people sob and sob. Big strong hulking men, strong, fearless young guys and girls, older ones, me, my friends, the fans.

The result hung heavily as the show slowed, stopped and the music died. Hours passed and we feared the worst. Our loss, was heaven's gain, say some. Others say, he died doing what he loved. What we found was that he was a good Mormon man and the church was called. No announcement was publicized for three hours or so but hugs were shared and Hail Mary and Our Father resonated from me, and so many...

And a brave man passed. And a good man left us. And a fine soul ascended, said his loved ones.

May this small sentiment express the Advanced Racing Engines friends and crew's sorrow, respect, and sense of community loss, in some small way. May my full respect and heart, go all of your way...Thanks folks, for having me in your pits and with the crews. Congratulations to the Hieberts team for winning both classes. I am told winnings will be donated and so on to the friends and survivors.

A good man is gone but not forgotten. Maybe just too good for this Earth...