11/10/2011 // WPB, FL, USA // Injury Lawyers News // Nicole Howley

Key West, FL — The opening day of the Key West World Championship proved fatal on Wednesday, November 9, 2011, when a catamaran crashed and killed two offshore powerboat racers, Fox News reported.

According to officials, a 46-foot Skater catamaran with four 1,200 horsepower engines was on its third lap of a race in the inside of the Key West Harbor, when it went airborne and crashed so hard that the right front hull was severely damaged.

The “Big Thunder Marine” was reportedly going about 130 mph, when it went airborne, barley leaving its propellers in the water.

“The boat apparently caught some air and went bow (front) up; straight into the air, came down and went backwards,” reported Superboat International President John Carbonell to Fox News.

The driver and throttleman were killed in the wreck. They were identified as Robert M. Morgan, of Sunrise Beach, Mo., and Jeffrey Tillman, of Kaiser, Mo.

Responding emergency crews recovered the men alive from the wreckage and rushed them to the Lower Keys Medical Center.

Tillman succumbed to his injuries just before arriving at the hospital, while Morgan died while on an air trauma ambulance.

Investigations are underway.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for Florida wrongful death lawyers.

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