A speedboat attempting to reach high speeds lost control and somersaulted through the air before dramatically crashing into the water at a boating event in Arizona.
Video footage from the annual Desert Storm event in Lake Havasu, about 150 miles south of Las Vegas, shows the Freedom One Racing boat leaping out of the water into the air, and backflipping and twisting midair before crashing upside down on the lake waters on April 26. The boat was moving at a speed of more than 200 mph before the crash, according to video footage shared by Freedom One Racing from inside the cockpit.
"No, no, no! Oh my god. Oh my god," a person can be heard saying in the footage, as others can be heard screaming and swearing.
"Drivers are safe, just a little banged up," Freedom One said in a post on Facebook around 4:00 p.m. on April 26. The team later said, "everyone is safe and in good condition" and thanked all those who "reached out and for all of the prayers."
Freedom One Racing is a powerboat racing team from Kansas City "dedicated to raising money for charitable causes and organizations." It owns a custom catamaran Skater boat named America One, which aims "to be the fastest shootout-style race boat in the world," according to the team's website.
"Designed to be shorter, lighter, and more powerful than traditional shootout boats, it was engineered for pure speed," Freedom One says about the boat.
While it is not known how much damage the boat received in the accident, Freedom One said the boat got "a few scratches" and "went flying for the first time" at Desert Storm Shootout, an annual event that showcases high-performance powerboats racing across Lake Havasu at lightning speeds.
Despite the accident, Freedom One won the race "even though it was upside down and backwards," boat technician Ryan Olah said, adding the team raised "close to $20k this week in Havasu for charities."
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq7.