New Zealand Jetsprint Association spokesperson Richard Buckley said the crash happened in a second qualifying run.
“To be honest, he came round the bottom end, went in too deep, clipped a tyre that is for the exit channel, which put him into a barrel roll.
“That barrel roll sent him across the grass and into the safety fence at the far side.”
The Wellington Free Ambulance said crews took two people to Wairarapa Hospital in a moderate condition.
Buckley was one of the first on the scene and said the two injured were “a bit banged up, but they’re okay”.
He said rescue crews reached the boat in seconds.
“All the safety equipment did it’s job and they may not have walked away, but they are both walking now and doing well.”
He said each event had rescue crews positioned around the track, as well as onsite paramedics and ambulances on call.
“All motorsport is dangerous to a level, but I think we have a really good safety record.”
The top boats can accelerate from 0-100km/h in about 1.6s and the superboats hit speeds of 140-150km/h on a 150m-long track, Buckley said.
– RNZ
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