US Calfornia 200 off-road race ends in a bizarre accident killing at least 8 people
Posted on 15. Aug, 2010 by admin in Automotive
As many as eight spectators were killed after a racer dashed his vehicle into the crowd that was watching the US California 200 off-road race.
The crash injured twelve others, at the Mojave Desert near the Lucerne Valley 100 miles off Los Angeles at the California 200 desert night race.
The driver of the 4×4 truck, Brett Sloppy escaped unhurt after the crash, however, fled the scene to avoid angry mob. Police said that the driver will not be booked on any charges.
The racer had taken jump at very high speed and although he had put brakes upon landing his truck rolled off to the side where there were no guardrails and where bystanders were almost close to the racers path watching the race killing eight people on the spot and injuring 12 others at the Mojave Desert.
It is said that many spectators throng the place to catch the annual off-road race and that it was a race that took place with the approval of Federal Bureau of Land Management.
But the spectators always stand very close to the off-road race vehicles path, most times without any means of self protection. Last night’s crash happened soon after the race was started.
The race also has a dry river bed in the southern California desert giving it the California 200 desert night race name. The path for the racers is only illuminated by the spotlights mounted on the car tops.
