Driver Killed in Drag Boat Accident at Castaic

Champion speedboat driver Billy Todd died Saturday after his drag boat catapulted 30 feet in the air at 205 m.p.h., then came crashing down on him as thousands of spectators watched in horror at Castaic Lake.

“He was making a quarter-mile run, and we don’t know exactly what popped on it,” said Frank Barilla, a coordinator of the $20,000 Sundance Sports Dragboat Nationals. “Maybe a prop blade snapped.”

The accident occurred about 1:30 p.m. after Todd, 48, of Auburn sped a quarter-mile in 5.46 seconds to qualify for today’s feature race.

Todd was taken by helicopter to Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills, where he died at 7:30 p.m. from multiple injuries.