Copyright 2002, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By David Swarts

In a phone call to Roadracingworld.com, Fred Bramblett of OMS Sports released details of the boating accident involving Ben and Eric Bostrom and Ben’s girlfriend Kat, the tall, slender woman serving as Ben’s umbrella girl in many race grid photos.

OMS Sports represents Ben Bostrom.

According to Bramblett, the trio’s boat was run over from behind by a larger, faster boat Monday, August 19 in a bay off Sardinia, an island off the coast of Italy.

All three dove into the water before the collision occurred but were caught in the wake and Kat was hit by one of the boats.

Kat is “still in the hospital, stable condition, but gonna be there for a while, you know, undergone surgery to correct the puncture in her lung, but still (is) hooked up to a breathing apparatus. It’s gonna take a while for her to rehabilitate for her to be taken off,” said Bramblett

Kat is a fashion model who travels between Milan, New York and Paris, Bramblett said.

“(Ben) and Eric both got tumbled a little bit, but probably no worse than any given Sunday at a racetrack somewhere,” added Bramblett.

The accident is being investigated by the Italian Coast Guard.