Spectator killed after fiery wreck at Firebird Raceway
Reported by: Eric English
Last Update: 7:43 pm
CHANDLER, AZ
A woman died Sunday after she was struck by debris at a National Hot Rod Association competition at Firebird International Raceway.
Witnesses say she was hit by a tire that came off of a Top Fuel Dragster driven by well-known racer Antron Brown.
"You could see the tire flip and he started flipping over," Ron Derosett said. "He hit the wall."
Video taken at the event shows the car's left rear wheel break away as the car careens out of control.
Amazingly, Brown was not harmed in the crash.
While cameras stay on the car continuing down the track, the wheel that broke free bounced over several barriers and hit the woman.
Witnesses say she was in a mobility scooter, near a mobile home not even watching the racing.
"I saw the car on the rail, the tire fly off, the explosion," Shannon Jimenez described. "It was something that...Oh my God, I almost cried."
The woman was airlifted to Good Samaritan Medical Center, but later died.
NHRA officials would not comment directly on the incident, saying only that they are investigating what happened.
For some fans, it was almost too much, but other fans say they'll continue to come out and enjoy the races.
"You don't want anyone to get hurt, but it's neat to watch. It's a spectacular thing to see," Derosett said.
The woman's name has not been released.
NHRA issued a statement addressing the tragic accident on Sunday evening.
A woman who was struck by a tire earlier today at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital this evening. The tire became detached from Antron Brown's dragster following an incident during the first round of eliminations. Brown was not injured.
NHRA is investigating the incident. The entire NHRA community is deeply saddened by today's incident and sends its thoughts and prayers to the woman's family and friends.
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Sad and kind of odd. The woman who was killed was at a nearby mobile home (several barriers away) and not watching the racing...so she was not really a spectator...
Reported by: Eric English
Last Update: 7:43 pm
CHANDLER, AZ
A woman died Sunday after she was struck by debris at a National Hot Rod Association competition at Firebird International Raceway.
Witnesses say she was hit by a tire that came off of a Top Fuel Dragster driven by well-known racer Antron Brown.
"You could see the tire flip and he started flipping over," Ron Derosett said. "He hit the wall."
Video taken at the event shows the car's left rear wheel break away as the car careens out of control.
Amazingly, Brown was not harmed in the crash.
While cameras stay on the car continuing down the track, the wheel that broke free bounced over several barriers and hit the woman.
Witnesses say she was in a mobility scooter, near a mobile home not even watching the racing.
"I saw the car on the rail, the tire fly off, the explosion," Shannon Jimenez described. "It was something that...Oh my God, I almost cried."
The woman was airlifted to Good Samaritan Medical Center, but later died.
NHRA officials would not comment directly on the incident, saying only that they are investigating what happened.
For some fans, it was almost too much, but other fans say they'll continue to come out and enjoy the races.
"You don't want anyone to get hurt, but it's neat to watch. It's a spectacular thing to see," Derosett said.
The woman's name has not been released.
NHRA issued a statement addressing the tragic accident on Sunday evening.
A woman who was struck by a tire earlier today at the NHRA Arizona Nationals at Firebird International Raceway was pronounced dead at Good Samaritan Hospital this evening. The tire became detached from Antron Brown's dragster following an incident during the first round of eliminations. Brown was not injured.
NHRA is investigating the incident. The entire NHRA community is deeply saddened by today's incident and sends its thoughts and prayers to the woman's family and friends.
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Sad and kind of odd. The woman who was killed was at a nearby mobile home (several barriers away) and not watching the racing...so she was not really a spectator...
