Second racer in Taunton boat crash dies

By Bianca Buono

bbuono@abc6.com

@BBuonoABC6

Another person has died following a boat crash in Taunton last weekend. Three boats collided during a race on Watson Pond.

Lt. Jay Hayes of the Taunton Fire Department there when it happened.

"It’s like watching NASCAR. A three-car pileup going 70 mph. All three occupants getting ejected. The only difference is on land they can usually walk away. On water, we’re basically there to pick them up,” said Hayes.

Out of the three drivers, only one survived.

Thirty-nine-year-old Mark Greene from New Hampshire died on the scene and 67-year-old Stephen Joy from Maine was rushed to Rhode Island Hospital. He was pronounced dead Friday.

The race was a part of the Bill Giles Memorial Regatta. It involves small, hydroplane boats which Hayes describes as extremely high-risk.

"All the racers unfortunately understand that something like this could happen,” Hayes said.

Many of those racers know first hand. Back in 2012, another boater died in the same race after his boat flipped. In the weeks leading up to this year’s race, the Taunton Fire Department studied hydroplane boats and past races. In response, they added more safety measures than ever before and it still wasn’t enough.

"We actually staffed a boat in the middle with some back up divers and back up safety personnel,” Hayes explained.

Hayes is unsure of what the future holds for this race in Taunton, but despite the dangers it presents, he hopes it comes back.

"I just hope that people understand that this was an unfortunate accident. It’s just one of those things the races understand there’s a possibility it could happen,” he said.

We reached out to the race’s organizers but they had no comment.

Massachusetts Environmental Police are still investigating the crash.

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