Boat Racer Injured in Mission Bay Crash

A 49-year-old man was seriously injured Saturday when his hydroplane crashed during the start of a race in Mission Bay.

Charles Rear, whose address was unavailable, was hurt when his boat crashed into another shortly after the race had begun on a one-mile oval course.

Rear was participating in the California Formula Six Liter Series, a two-day powerboat regatta on east Mission Bay limited to hydroplane and flat bottom classes.

After the accident at about 1 p.m., Rear was taken by Life Flight to UCSD Medical Center, where he was listed in critical condition Saturday evening.