P1 SuperStock USA Driver Dies in Jacksonville Race Accident

Editor’s note: According to a statement from P1 SuperStock USA released on Monday morning, the other three racers involved in the accident have either been released from the hospital or are in stable condition. Read the statement here.  

In an unfortunate accident on Saturday afternoon, two P1 SuperStock USA raceboats crashed during the Jacksonville Grand Prix of the Sea on the St. Johns River, sending four people—one of whom ended up dying from the injuries he sustained—to local hospitals.

Mike Salber, a Lieutenant in the Sanford Fire Department in Central Florida, died in a boat racing accident in Jacksonville on Saturday. Photo courtesy P1 SuperStock USA.

The P1 SuperStock organization released this statement this morning: “Following a powerboat racing incident in the P1 Superstock USA series in Jacksonville yesterday, it is with great sadness that we announce the loss of one of the racers, Mike Salber—a Lieutenant in the Sanford Fire Department in Central Florida—after he passed away from the injuries he sustained. Three other racers involved in the incident (Zane Salber, Mike’s son, Chris Mejias and Frank Silva), were injured and taken to nearby hospitals. A further statement will be issued when more details are available. Our thoughts are with Mike’s family, friends, colleagues and the powerboat racing community as a whole at this difficult time.”

According to local reports (read the Action News Jax and News4JAX website stories by clicking the included links), two of the outboard-powered V-bottom raceboats—Frank and Al’s Pizza and Rapid Building Solutions—collided while racing around 1:50 p.m. during the third day of the Jacksonville event. Following the accident, organizers cancelled the remaining races of the day.

The Sanford Fire Department in Central Florida expressed its condolences on Facebook after one of its own died after the Rapid Building Solutions boat flipped in the race.

“It is with deep sadness and with a heavy heart that we inform you that Sanford Fire Department Tower Lieutenant Mike Salber has passed away this afternoon from injuries sustained during a boating accident,” the post read. “Please keep Mike’s family in your thoughts and prayers.”

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