VAN BUREN, Ark. -- A man was traveling at high speed in a boat when he crashed into the Lee Creek Bridge Thursday night, police said. Several witnesses attempted to save the man, but they were unsuccessful.

Boating Accident Claims Life Of One Man

That bridge is near the Field of Dreams Baseball field in Van Buren, and there was a little league baseball game in progress when the accident happened. Three coaches heard a loud crash and came running to see what happened, police said.

Matt Brady and Keith Moore went to the ballpark hoping to win a few games, but they never thought they would end up in the water trying to save a man's life, they said.

"I saw him hanging on the side of the wall, so I dove in. Once I reached for him, he went underwater," Moore said.

The coaches tried to dive underwater several times but could not get deep enough.

"We felt around and tried to get hold of him, and by that time we couldn't feel him, but we knew he was in that area. We could see the air bubbles," Moore said.

Once emergency officials arrived on the scene they helped pull the man out of the water but could not resuscitate him.

"Of course the T-ball game feels good, but if we'd had been there just a split second earlier..." Brady said.

Brady appeared visibly shaken by the experience.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the family. I wish I could help them out, but at a time like this all I can offer is my prayers," Brady said.

Emergency officials said there was no major damage to Lee Creek Bridge, so vehicles on I-40 that go directly over this bridge could still travel safely.

Police had not released the name of the victim Thursday night, they were still investigating why he was traveling at such a high rate of speed.