PORTLAND, OR (KPTV) -
A man who was seriously hurt in a drag boat racing crash on the Columbia River is already itching to get back in the water.
Trevor Olson said he was wearing his safety gear last Thursday while practicing for a weekend drag race. His helmet, life jacket and parachute saved his life when the boat flipped and crashed.
Olson said he doesn't even cringe when he watches the cellphone video of the crash that landed him in the hospital. He said he has no regrets, except that the crash kept him out of a weekend drag race.
"I'd do it right now if they'd let me in there," he said.
Investigators are still trying to determine what went wrong in the crash. Olson had just replaced his boat's motor prior to the wreck. He suffered a broken hand, an injury to his back and 10 broken ribs.
"I remember when (the boat) lifted up off the water, and then I remember being in the ambulance," he said.
Drag boat racing reaches speeds of more than 200 mph and Olson said the faster he goes, the more fun he has.
"I've grown up on the water. I love the water, and I love racing," he said. "I have a need for speed."
Olson, who was released from the hospital Friday afternoon, said he's now ready to get back to work on building a new boat.
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