Texas drag race driver slams into spectators, killing 2 kids

[Zorro]

Boys, 6 and 8, die at “Airport Race Wars 2″ event.

KERRVILLE, Texas — A driver lost control during a Texas drag racing event on an airport runway and slammed into a crowd of spectators, killing two children and injuring eight other people, authorities said.

A 6-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy were killed in the crash Saturday afternoon at an event called “Airport Race Wars 2″ at the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport, police said in a news release. The organized event was attended by thousands and involved drivers speeding down a runway as they competed for cash.

The driver “lost control and left the runway, crashing into parked vehicles and striking spectators who were observing the races,” Kerrville police said.

The injured victims were taken to various hospitals, including a 46-year-old woman who was listed in critical condition. The majority of the other injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, although the condition of a 26-year-old man was unknown, authorities said. A 4-year-old boy and a 3-month-old girl were taken to a hospital for precautionary evaluations.

https://www.tampabay.com/news/nation-world/2021/10/24/texas-drag-race-driver-slams-into-spectators-killing-2-kids/

[dalton99a]

1. No protection between spectators and cars past the finish line

The Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau’s website promoted the event as an “action packed, family-friendly day” in which fans could watch the “fastest drag cars compete for over $8000 in total prizes.”

Upward of 3,500 people were in attendance, according to Louis Amestoy, a freelance journalist who was at the event.

The race was an eighth of a mile long, and water-filled plastic barriers lined the course. But Amestoy said they didn’t extend past the finish line, leaving no protection between spectators and cars as they were slowing down at the end of the race.

Spectators could get within about 15 feet of the track, and many watched the race from lawn chairs in the absence of stands. Organizers reminded people to stay in the grass and off the asphalt, Amestoy told The Associated Press in a phone interview.

[Wingus Dingus]

3. What happens when stupid people organize a stupid event for stupid spectators.

[uncle ray]

9. this.

responsible organizers do not allow spectators anywhere near the finish line, due to the speed at that end of the track. if they are allowed, it's quite a ways back, with concrete barriers. heck, even completely illegal street races often observe better safety precautions! i think when my local airport has airstrip races, spectators are at least 1/8 mile away from the track.

on top of that, spectators do not understand the risk they are exposing themselves and their kids to, they think event organizers know what safety precautions are necessary. news flash: there is a reason they had you sign a liability waiver as you entered!

[Wingus Dingus]

10. When my boys were little we used to take them to monster truck rallies

and air shows--as you say, true professional organizers don't let you very close to the action. Certainly not right at the end of the finish line..

[malaise]

5. It's called

Free Dumb!

That is all

[SoCalDavidS]

2. This Country Doesn't Give A Shit About Human Life

I'm 100% convinced of that.

Forget all the so-called religious Morons, who pretend to care, they don't. Just another way to "own the libs," by spewing the Bullshit about the sanctity of life.

[marble falls]

4. Pretty rare occurance, but maybe temporary fencing and barriers weren't up to spec.

[multigraincracker]

7. "Airport Race Wars 2″

I don't like the sound of that.

[Grokenstein]

8. "Race Wars"

Just a Texass idea of being "cute," I guess.
Yeah, fuck them Big Gubbermint safety regulations!

[Celerity]

13. Texas is making a run at Florida's shithole crown, a (red)neck and neck race to the death

[Mopar151]

12. more like alt.racing

like "street outlaws", "no prep", "gambler's" races or "imports only" , or "Race of Gentlemen", other "runway drags" events. The thing to remember is, that there are a bunch of 150 mph+ 1/8 mile cars out there!

They seek to reclaim the grassroots spirit of bygone days, mostly by ratcheting down on some of the aspects of car/driver safety, and without the trappings of guardrails or spectator fencing. Some of these requirements are driven by insurance, especially those involving PAYING Spectators! Not even a caution tape, between 150 mph race cars, and trucks, trailers, PEOPLE? Good night, Nurse! (like this one:

a top end crash, contained here by guardrails)

Permanent racing facilities have a HUGE investment in fencing, guardrail, walls, barriers, and more, to keep fast cars and people apart. You pretty much have to - my experience as a course worker @ trail crossings and checkpoints in hillclimb, has convinced me that most "normal" people become impact zone detectors when seeing motorsports "in the wild".

Our "club" hillclimbs in Vermont all take place on dead end Vt. Parks roads (originally built by the CCC's). Our State permits allow us to close the whole area off, and we actively remove unsafe "spectators/hikers" - by police escort, if necessary. We try to be reasonably accommodating to actual hikers, runners, bikers, paraglider flyers, and the like.

is a Bug's eye view.