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1 Killed, 2 Injured In Crash At Taunton Boat Race

TAUNTON (CBS) -- One person is dead and two others injured after boats collided during a race at Watson Pond in Taunton.

Fire officials say the three boats involved in the crash were participating in the Bill Giles Memorial Regatta early Saturday afternoon. One of the boats spun out at 65 mph, causing a pileup with the two other boats. All three boat drivers were ejected.

Joe Garrick, who came to watch the race, witnessed the horrific scene.

"I had been in a few accidents over my 23 years, and I know it didn't look good," Garrick said. "I know the speed these boats are capable of and what speed they were heading into that turn and I thought, 'wow, I'm going to watch this and just see what happens,' and sure as heck, it happened."

Taunton Fire Dive Team rescued all three boaters from the water. The driver of one of the boats, a 39-year-old man from New Hampshire, was declared dead on scene. Another driver, a 67-year-old Maine man, is in critical condition and the third, a 72-year-old Maine man, sustained minor injuries. The two injured boaters were taken to a local hospital.

Investigators have not yet released the names of the victims.

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