Photo from Southern Maryland Boat Club Facebook page.
Leonardtown, MD – A Leonardtown man died early Monday morning, July 30 from injuries he sustained when the race boat he was operating flipped over, Maryland Natural Resources Police (NRP) reported. According to NRP spokeswoman Candy Thomson, the vintage boat operated by Charles David Downs, 58, was traveling on Breton Bay at about 80 mph “when the bow raised up and the boat flipped over, ejecting the driver. Within minutes he was found unconscious by a local fire boat and taken to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital, where he was stabilized and flown to MedStar Washington Hospital Center for surgery. He died shortly before 1 a.m.
Thomson said Downs was wearing a life jacket during the race.
Downs was participating in a two-day regatta held by the Southern Maryland Boat Club and permitted by the Coast Guard.
An investigation by NRP is continuing.
Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com
Leonardtown, MD – Maryland Natural Resources Police reported a 58-year-old St. Mary’s County man was killed Sunday afternoon after his boat flipped at 80 mph and he was ejected during a Coast Guard-permitted event on Breton Bay near Leonardtown. Event sponsored by the Southern Maryland Boat Club. Investigation by NRP continues.