LAKE HAVASU CITY—Two local men were killed Saturday afternoon after the boat they were in flipped during the annual Desert Storm Poker Run in Lake Havasu City.
Speed On The Water had reported earlier that the driver of the Lickity Split boat, identified as Brad Kloepfer, 57, and two passengers had been critically injured after their boat reportedly flipped. It was reported the boat was traveling in excess of 150 miles per hour at the time of the accident.
Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Public Information Officer Anita Mortensen said late Saturday, Kloepher and his fellow passenger, Paul Selberg, 69, had succumbed to their injuries after being taken to Havasu Regional Medical Center. A third victim, identified as Kloepher’s wife, Connie, 58, is in extreme critical condition at this time.
Mortensen said the crash was reported to the agency’s Communication Center shortly after 12 p.m. Saturday. Callers were reporting the crash happened in the South Basin of Lake Havasu, near the Contact Point Water Safety Center.
“It was determined that a large boat traveling at high speeds had crashed and then sank,” said Mortensen. “Several Good Samaritan boats were on scene and had pulled two males and one female out of the water. CPR was being administered to the two males.”
Mohave County Sheriff’s Office Division of Boating Safety Personnel boarded the Good Samaritan boats and took over resuscitation efforts, Mortensen said.
“Deputies then loaded the three occupants into different MCSO Patrol Boats and transported each of them to the Contact Point Water Safety Center within minutes. At Contact Point they were met by Lake Havasu City Fire Department personnel who took over life-saving efforts. The occupants were all taken to the Havasu Regional Medical Center.”
The boat–which was identified as Lickety Split, a 35 foot Wide Body DCB–was recovered from the lake bottom by a local salvage company, she added.
Furthermore, said Mortensen, an initial investigation showed all the occupants were wearing life jackets and the operator was wearing his safety kill switch. High speeds are being considered as the contributing factor in this crash.
“Our thoughts are with the family and those affected by this incident,” said Mortensen.
The case remains under still investigation.
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