Boat Involved In Fatal Point Pleasant Grand Prix Crash Has Been Located, Will Be Raised

BAY HEAD, NJ - One of the two powerboats that collided in a fatal crash during the Point Pleasant Beach Offshore Grand Prix has been located in 35 feet of water near where it sank in the May 21 accident, according to nj.com.

The 26-foot "Smith Brothers" boat was found off Johnson Street in Bay Head, south of where it collided with the "Repeat Offender," shortly after the race began, Mayor Stephen Reid said.

Divers from the Berkeley Township Search and Rescue Dive Team have volunteered to help locate the boat for more than a week. New Jersey State Police Boats are also on the scene to assist.

Investigators are trying to determine why the other boat — Repeat Offender — crossed in front of the Smith Brothers boat, which caused it to run over the top of the Repeat Offender, Al Della Fave, a spokesman for the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office has said.

The throttle man for the Repeat Offender, David Raabe, 38, of Forked River, was killed. The driver, James "JP" Byrne, 35, of Nutley, was seriously injured.

A New Jersey State Police boat was in the ocean off Bay Head last week on Tuesday using what appeared to be side-scan sonar during the search.

The transom of the Smith Brothers was ripped off during the collision and sank, Reid has said. Its two occupants, brothers Rich and Pete Smith, were thrown into the ocean but were rescued. They refused medical attention.

The Prosecutor's Office said in a statement recently that the Repeat Offender was "at fault" after a preliminary investigation. But it's unclear why the Repeat Offender turned directly in front of the Smith Brothers.

The Smith Brothers, operated by Peter Smith, 50, Riverton, and his brother Richard Smith, 53, of Souderton, Pennsylvania, who was at the throttle, struck Repeat Offender while in a turn, Della Fave has said.

Both Raabe and Byrne were stuck by the hull of the Smith Brothers boat as it passed over the top of them. Both men were wearing full helmets. Raabe sustained serious head injuries and was pronounced dead at 1:22 p.m.

Byrne suffered serious injuries and was transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center. He is recovering.

The investigation is continuing.

Image: Patch file photo