Authorities said eight people were killed and dozens injured when a driver racing in the California 200 desert race in Lucerne Valley lost control of his off-roader, which went airborne and landed on top of spectators.
“He got airborne and when he landed, rolled over straight into the spectators,’’ said Office Joaquin Zubieta of the California Highway Patrol, the agency investigating the deadly crash. “People didn’t have much of a chance … to get out of the way.’’
Six spectators died at the scene. Nine others were airlifted to local hospitals, two of whom died later in the evening, Zubieta said.
No charges have been filed against the off-road racer, whose identity has not been released by authorities. The driver had to be escorted away from the area after the crowd “started to get rowdy. People were upset,’’ Zubieta said.
The ages of those killed ranged from the early 20s to late 40s. The names were withheld pending positive identification and notification of family.
The 200-mile race, held on desolate Soggy Dry Lake on federal desert land just east of the San Bernardino Mountains, was sanctioned by Mojave Desert Racing and is part of a seven race circuit. Off roaders race around the 50-mile long loop four times and hit speeds topping 60 mph.
The white truck that plowed into the crowd remained at the scene, upside down, into the early morning hours as CHP investigators crawled over the vehicle to search for any mechanical defects and to try to recreate the collision. Sponsorship decals plastered the sides of the truck, with a giant “Misery Motor Sports’’ covering the door.
Racing officials were being questioned by investigators past 3 a.m. Sunday and declined to comment about the incident.
The spot where the racer lost control is called the “rock pile.’’ The track snakes between giant boulders and up a small hill -– sending many of the off-roaders airborne.
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