Steve Reynolds Sues Over 1987 Hydro Accident

Former unlimited hydroplane driver Steve Reynolds has filed a lawsuit charging that a defective safety system contributed to injuries from a 1987 racing accident in Madison, Ind.

The American Powerboat Association, the Unlimited Racing Commission, Lucero Enterprises, Inc. and Bell Manufacturing are defendants in the action filed Wednesday in King County Superior Court.

Reynolds suffered a serious head injury when his boat flipped during the 1987 Indiana Governor's Cup race, even though the cockpit of the Cellular One hydro was encased in a bullet-proof F-16 canopy. The accident left him a coma for weeks.

Among Reynolds' complaints is that the cockpit's air supply bottle was improperly installed, causing it to disconnect.

Sim Osborn, a member of the law firm representing Reynolds, said the suit will question the effectiveness of the URC's safety inspection, the helmet Reynolds was wearing and the boat's design, driver's seat and fire-suppressant system.

Osborn said depositions will be taken and the process of discovering evidence will begin once all of the defendants have been served.

According to state law, plaintiffs aren't allowed to specify monetary damages when a suit is filed.