SEQUIM — A Carlsborg man died in a boating accident Saturday while racing at an event on Firebird Lake near Chandler, Ariz.
Mike Neuharth suffered severe injuries and died while being taken by helicopter to a Phoenix hospital, said Ken Witkowski, chief of the Gila River Indian Reservation police department.
Neuharth, 46, ran Bay Timber and Construction, a logging company, and had lived in the area since moving here from Lodi, Calif., as a teenager.
He is survived by his wife, Judy; a son, Tim Neuharth; and two daughters, Rachel Neuharth and Janice Peterson.
Peterson said her father had raced boats for much of his life. This weekend’s event was organized by the International Hot Boat Association and opened the group’s competitive season.
Neuharth entered in drag boat racing, Peterson said. The account of the accident given to her by track officials said that during the race wind got under Neuharth’s boat, causing it to spin around and nosedive into the lake.
The accident occurred right after the boat crossed the finish line in the day’s final qualifying run.
Neuharth was reportedly going about 170 mph at the time of the accident.
The boats are designed with safety capsules to protect the racers, similar to protective shells in professional race cars. The capsules also provide an emergency oxygen supply, Witkowski said.
Neuharth’s capsule was apparently damaged in the wreck, he said.
The victim suffered head and neck injuries, and his air supply was also compromised, the police chief said.
