POKER RUN CRASH LAKE CUMBERLAND

[Big Red]

9-6-08 was the big poker run on Lake Cumberland Kentucky. Not far into the run Kevin Sellers 2003 36' Skater flipped at a estimated speed of 120-130 mph. The boat was capable of running 150+ mph.

Kevin Sellers of Indianapolis owner and driver of the boat lost his life. Passenger on the boat was Craig Stumpf he survived with lots of bumps and bruises he also was from Indianapolis

A comment from a spectator

This happend right in front of us. It was typical Poker Run Racing. He was trying to catch the white boat in front of him, cut the corner and just hit a wave wrong. It was ugly and quick. Could have happend to any of the go fast boats in the race. I did not know him personally, but he has been around the poker runs for years


A comment from the tow boat driver,

My son was on a spectator boat about a hundred yards from the accident. The fellow was attempting to pass the boat in the lead. The Skater came down "wrong" on the starboard rear and began to chine walk. The starboard bow dug in to the water, which broke the hole throught the hull you see. That water forced through the starboard sponson like a cannon and blew out the transom. The weight and drag caused the boat to flip over, throw the occupants out and take on water. It partially sank, leaving only 12 feet of the bow above the water.

Kevin Sellers

 

[Big Red]

 

[jallen355]

Condolences to the family.

 

[lcboater]

i was at the poker run and saw the accident. there are some pics on lake cumberland.com .terrible thing to witness.

 

[Chris]

Very sad.

Condolences to the family.

-Chris

 

[ross]

i was at the poker run and saw the accident. there are some pics on lake cumberland.com .terrible thing to witness.

where on the website are the pics you are talking about? just lookied and didn't find anything.......-ross-

 

[yellowfiero88]

What a shame. Condolences to the family.

That was one sweet boat, 2300HP and 150mph! So, so sweet but no thanks.

 

[Big Red]

Here is the link to the story and pic's

http://lakecumberland.com/forum/viewthread.php?tid=20824

Who's was there in the Checkmate looks like a Convincor

 

[lcboater]

the checkmate in the picture is my 30 'knight moves'. this has been a couple of bad weeks. lost another guy last weekend in a 36' outlaw. ran aground just after midnight. great guy also.

 

[Big Red]

Here is a story about Kevin Sellers that a freind of his wrote.
*
Kevin was a great guy and very giving when it came to helping others I enjoyed the time I spent talking with him about boats, charities, and life in general. We were not super close friends but we were good boating friends and I will miss his enthusiasm for the sport we all love

I feel I need to tell this story as I think it had great irony in the wake of his death

In 2005 a 42’ Outerlimits was running in our poker run (Smoke On The Water) when it flipped over and 4 men were ejected. Two men survived and two perished at our event one body was never recovered.
Kevin sellers was one of the first boats at the accident site and immediately jumped from his boat into the cold lake Michigan waters to provide assistance.
Kevin helped the two men who were struggling in the water the best he could,and then tried to help with the body of one man floating unconscious. (as well as OU Want Some, MTI 42 and a few others ) Kevin acted heroic and with great concern for others with never giving a second thought to his exposure to fuel, cold water, and floating debris

Once the coast Guard arrived they took the body of Johnny Desusa (One of the men that perished) aboard there vessel, and then fished Kevin out of the cold waters onto there boat. By this time I had arrived at the accident site in our Cigarette. As we pulled up to the Coast Guard boat we informed them that I had two nurses aboard (My wife Cherie and her best friend Karen) and asked if they need there assistance The CG asked them to get aboard to help. At this point both girls went to the bow of our boat to be transferred to CG boat My wife stepped off and got on board the CG boat. Next was Karen, as she attempted to transfer from one boat to the other, the boats separated and Karen ended up falling in the water. At this moment it was not the CG that dove in to provide Karen with assistance, but was Kevin Sellers diving back in the cold water off of the CG boat to make sure Karen was ok, and helped her get on board the CG boat safely.
Kevin knew more than most, the risks involved with this sport, and has seen first hand the outcome of a high speed accident.

Kevin and I talked a few times about that day, and how he was affected by being involved in the SOTW rescue.

Kevin gave of his time to take the Make A Wish kids for rides and support of our event.
He gave of himself in helping to rescue at our event
He gave us all a smile with his enthusiasm
He gave us pause as we walked passed his eye catching boat
He gave his life doing what he loved almost more than anything else in life (Performance Boating)

I am sure when Kevin gets to the pearly gates the first thing he is going to want to know is where the boats are

God speed my friend your life here gave us all much joy and in your passing I am sure it will give us change

Marc Blondin
PRO LLC
Smoke On The Water Poker Run


Another of the good guys gone. So Sorry! Pop-O

 

[PapaMaC]

It is always terrible to hear about bad things happening to good people, but at least he was doing what he loved most.

 

[mboger]

i was in the first boat to pull up on them we were runnig a little bit behind them and that is the second skater i have seen in an accident and dont want to see another
i have emailed craig and he is pretty banged up but will be ok after a while
kevin was a good guy and a good driver just an accident
prayers go out to all and families