8 Dead, 12 Injured in California Off-Road Race Accident

[Badger]

So who has seen this mess?

8 Dead, 12 Wounded After Truck Plows Into Crowd at Off-Road Race in California Desert

 

[Chevycrew]

I saw it over on planet. It truly is a mess.

 

[4x4_Welder]

I drove through there in March and again in April- The desert there is so torn up, it's hard to tell where the course actually is. Now they go and blame the driver for causing it, how about move your ass off the track? Last time I checked a two ton+ truck doesn't have any control in the air, an unexpected gust can easily blow it off the intended course.

 

[Badger]

I seriously hope they don't bring charges against the driver. If the vehicle passed inspection and it's a sanctioned race you would think the responsible party would be the people that held the race. They should be the ones that should have been looking out for spectators well being and not allowing them with in 10 feet of the edge of the track.

I love the media and how they try to link other accidents in other sports..........

The crash was the latest in a series of race accidents that have proved deadly to spectators.

A car plowed into a crowd that had gathered to watch an illegal drag race on a suburban road in Accokeek, Maryland, in February 2008, killing eight people and injuring five. The two racers were charged with vehicular manslaughter. Darren Bullock, 22, was sentenced to 15 years in prison; Tavon Taylor, 20, is awaiting trial.
(So what does this have to do with anything. It was an illegal race)

In Chandler, Ariz., in February, a female spectator was killed by a tire that flew off a crashing dragster at Chandler's Firebird International Raceway for the NHRA Arizona Nationals.

In Selmer, Tennessee, a dragster went out of control and smashed into spectators during a fundraising festival in June 2007, killing six people and injuring 22. Driver Troy Critchley, 38, was convicted of misdemeanor reckless assault charges and sentenced to 18 months probation.

Again if it was a sanctioned race and the car passed inspection how can they hold the driver responsible? I could understand if he blatantly drove the vehicle into a crowd but if something goes wrong, something goes wrong. I know that if I go to a race and put myself close enough to be in a danger zone it's my own fault if I'm injured by an accident.

 

[TEAM FRED]

This is bad for all motorsports.
Hopefully it does not put an end to racing in our deserts.
People need to use more common sense when spectating at these events.

 

[SAMI]

This is sickening news. I hope the driver is vindicated if he truly didn't do anything wrong. It bothers me to think that a group of spectators mobbed him after the accident. If he deserved it then fine.. But if he didn't, and mob mentality set in with some who were there, then that sucks.

 

[Badger]

I know the article states he had to flee the scene due to spectators throwing rocks at him but I heard on the news this morning he was actually taken away by the police for his own protection because of the people mobbing him. Poor wording in the article makes it sound like he was fleeing the scene of the accident on his own accord.

He shouldn't have been mobbed for any reason. It was a race and things happen the chances are there in any type of motor sport and to hear people doing so it just down right wrong. To think it was his fault for idiots standing on the side of the track just shows where are society is heading. People thinking they can be the judge and jury on the spot is not going to help any sport in anyway. If they wanted to do anything it should have been simply helping where they can to take care of the injured or to contact the authorities to get the proper help to the area.

I know if I was a racer I would have to start thinking twice about entering a race because of situations like this. If the people holding the event can not control the spectators properly and haven't taken the proper steps to protect them and the drivers from things like this happening again.

 

[JL Rockies]

Well... this did happen in CA which is the land of "it has to be someone's fault"

 

[Cody]

Seems to me that the promoter is responsible for improper crowd control. Truly tragic.

 

[jackjoh]

I remember during the Mojave 24 hour race and Baja 1000 and 500 mile races that crowd control is virtually impossible. Just look at the Pikes Peak race posted yesterday and the close calls that happened. When people get that close to a race they are taking their lives into their own hands and they should be the ones responsible. Even when you can control the crowd we used to make spectators sign a release form absolving the organizers of all responsibility. Then insurance got so expensive a lot of the races just shut down. The writing is on the wall. If people don't start taking responsibility for their actions you will sit at home and watch professional stuff on TV. In fact that seems to be this countries biggest problem - personal responsibility for our actions

 

[cannoncrawler]

Seems to me that the promoter is responsible for improper crowd control.

I am not trying to argue with ya on this point, but is there any desert race that has crowd control that would be considered "proper"?

A few weeks ago I went to the s.n.o.r.r. 250 and It's just a big damn desert out there. What are some ways to control crowds in an area like that?

 

[phatfoto]

I've been to MDR races in Lucerne Valley, Barstow and Ridgecrest. Big wide open desert, marked race course, and people can park wherever they chose to. Being close to the action is sort of the appeal, but its hard to tell where the safest areas can be depending on where you are on the courses... While some can blame the promoters and organizers, some blame can be on the spectators as well. As a popular area fills in, more people think they need to be closer. Me? When a spot got too crowded, I moved to another spot.

 

[Cherokeester]

Truly bad news indeed. Everytime I go to potato salad hill and watch that mob I can see something like this happening. I hope it doesn't but I think it is just a matter of time.

 

[TEAM FRED]

On the news tonight they had a spectator talking about this. He said "They let us get as close as we like" Sounds like a way to point blame to me.

 

[rollover]

This was on Mud:

http://forum.ih8mud.com/chit-chat-section/406861-im-devastated-zachary-gone.html#post5794079

Very sad to hear how this touched him.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

A tragic event for all involved.

 

[Panos]

just horrible news! although i really hope no blame is put on the driver. From watching the video it looks to me that the crowd can get as close to the track as they want, if thats true then it is up to the crown to use their own best judgment. Either way, a tragic event

 

[rockreligious]

Truly bad news indeed. Everytime I go to potato salad hill and watch that mob I can see something like this happening. I hope it doesn't but I think it is just a matter of time.

Its already happened...crowd standing all over the hill and all the way across the top, someone had to gas it at the top and accidently hit someone at the top that didnt get out of the way, and the crowd pulled him out of his rig and beat him. thats why I am done with psh and all the idiots that hang out there during Easter.

 

[cruiseroutfit]

Its already happened...crowd standing all over the hill and all the way across the top, someone had to gas it at the top and accidently hit someone at the top that didnt get out of the way, and the crowd pulled him out of his rig and beat him...

Yikes, when did that happen?

 

[rockreligious]

Yikes, when did that happen?

I believe it was 2005..cant remember but I guess Im getting to old for the whole spring break mentality.. it wasnt wheelers that responded this way. It was drunk idiots that probably went to Moab in thier camero's and bulletbikes. (nothing agianst camero's and bullet bikes).