Powerboat 'Smith Brothers' Recovered From Ocean After Fatal Grand Prix Accident, Towed To Land

The powerboat Smith Brothers CRC was raised to the ocean surface and towed to Ken's Landing Tuesday, little more than a week after the fatal crash with another boat in the Point Pleasant Beach Grand Prix that killed a Lacey Township man, according to nj.com.

Owner Richard Smith was grateful to the Berkeley Township Underwater Search and Rescue and other divers who volunteered their time to locate the boat. They were hampered by rough seas and poor weather.

Smith, who was on the docks Tuesday, expressed sadness over the accident that took the life of Repeat Offender throttle man David Raabe, 37.

"I don't know how I feel yet," he said. "I'm glad it's back and I'm glad nobody got hurt getting it back. There's sorrow involved in the whole ordeal. It was a terrible tragedy, a racing accident. Sorrow is what you feel about the whole thing."

Authorities are still trying to figure out why Raabe's boat Repeat Offender cut in front of Smith's boat during the first turn of the race on May 21.

The Smith Brothers CRC drove over the top the Repeat Offender, killing the throttle man, David Raabe, 38, of Forked River, and seriously injuring the driver, James "JP" Byrne, 35, of Nutley.

"It happened very quickly," Smith said. "There was nothing we could do. Absolutely nothing."

The Smith brothers were thrown into the ocean and the boat sank after the transom was ripped off in the collision.

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Image: News12 New Jersey