SCHODACK LANDING - David Weidman is broken-hearted about his boat, which he called his ‘pride and joy.’

He said he’s mad at himself for driving it too fast – 100 miles an hour.

Weidman says he was racing another speed boat on the Hudson River north of the Castleton Bridge, when he got into trouble.
“I hit a wave. The boat flew up in the air and came down. Nose-dived and exploded,” he said.

The boat sunk. Other boats came to the rescue, including the one he says he raced.
Weidman credits his $300 life jacket for playing a crucial role in his survival. It’s got a kill switch which cut the motor when he was ejected. And it brought him to to the surface upright.
“It saved my life. I was underwater and it floated me to the top,” said Weidman.

His girlfriend also thinks the release of the kill switch got him out of danger’s way.
“If it wasn’t for that, the boat would’ve took him. Right down. He would’ve went with the boat and that would’ve been it,” said Pam Warnken.
Officials at the scene told News Channel 13, there’s no speed limit on the river. It’s up to common sense to drive safely and keep an eye out for wakes from other boats.

“Anywhere’s in the river here if there’s a wake, and you hit it just right with a boat, you can be in trouble,” said Schodack Landing Fire Chief Pat Lafferty.
Weidman escaped with just cuts and bruises. He feared that his boat is more battered, and hoped the Coast Guard can bring it up from bottom of the river. He said if he ever races one again, it won’t be that fast.