Powerboat Racer Critical After Being Dragged

Powerboat racer Don (Rique) Ford was dragged 75 feet and left in critical condition Sunday after a thief jumped into his truck at his Norco home and sped away as he clung helplessly to the boat trailer undercarriage.

Ford was in his driveway Saturday preparing his $400,000 boat Ragamuffin for a charity appearance when a man jumped into the idling truck and drove off, said Sgt. John Horton of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

Standing between the truck and trailer, Ford couldn’t escape so he grabbed onto the bottom of the trailer and was dragged 75 feet under the 4 1/2-ton trailer-boat combination until he finally let go, Horton said.

“He knew if he let go he would be run over (by the trailer wheels),” Horton said. “And that’s exactly what happened. When he couldn’t hang on any longer, the wheels ran over him.”

Ford, 33, was in critical condition Sunday at Riverside General Hospital, a spokesperson said.

Authorities found Ford’s boat abandoned near Chino late Saturday.

Ford gave investigators a description of the thief, who could face charges of attempted murder, carjacking and robbery, Horton said.

Ford has won numerous races with Ragamuffin. Last year, he took first place in the American Power Boats Assn.’s High Points National Championship for his boat’s class.