Fan dies after hit by debris from NHRA crash

[Jon Cole]

Fan dies after hit by debris from NHRA crash

Woman struck by tire from a crashing dragster in Arizona race

CHANDLER, Ariz. - A woman died Sunday after being hit by a tire from a crashing dragster at the NHRA Arizona Nationals.

The woman was watching a first-round Top Fuel run at Firebird International Raceway when Antron Brown’s Matco Tools/U.S. Army dragster went out of control on the strip and its left rear wheel came off.

Alia Maisonet, a spokeswoman for the Gila River Indian Community, said the woman was airlifted to a Phoenix-area hospital for treatment and later died. Gila River emergency responders were among the first to respond to the scene.

Maisonet said she didn’t know the victim’s name or hometown.

“The entire NHRA community is deeply saddened by today’s incident and sends its thoughts and prayers to the woman’s family and friends,†the association said in an e-mailed statement.

Franki Buckman, the track’s executive vice president, said Firebird International Raceway also is deeply saddened by the incident.

Brown was released by the track medical staff, but went to Chandler Regional Hospital for further observation, according to a statement put out by Don Schumacher Racing before the woman died. The NHRA said Brown wasn’t injured.

The racing continued after the accident, and John Force advanced to his second straight Funny Car final before the session was postponed because of rain. Force, the 60-year-old star who ended a 40-race winless streak last week with his record 127th victory, will meet Jack Beckman on Monday.

Reported by Associated Press

[bigdawg]

Its was a very sad day. It was also amazing that the driver Antron Brown didnt get hurt when all the oil came out of the engine area and on to the track with the car still running. Very scary plus that track on the left lane was terrible. 2 car flipped. Greg Anderson went off on the track. Too many bumps at that speed. They should have stopped and just ended the weekend. They need to repaved that track. Pretty soon they are going to have to put up catch fences. At those speeds that might just happin. Not only is it getting scary for the drivers but your putting lives at stake. Just sad cause drag races has come so far. This might really wake up NHRA and get some more safty out to protect there drivers and fans.

[JamesW]

WOW, kinda reminds me of The Final Destination. It's hard to believe something like this can happen when tracks take such major precations against this type of thing happening.

[Rob Hall]

Wow..sad thing to happen... I drive past that track every day in my commute, my office is nearby.

[Jon Cole]

I just saw a video clip of this crash on CNN. The rail did a hard left, on its right side. The free tire did a BIG bounce, and went maybe 30' to 50' in the air. Sadly, I don't think a catch fence would have stopped the tire. Irregardless, they should consider fencing.

[george 53]

It's a tragedy something like THAT had to happen while just goin to a race to enjoy themselves. But after listening to the details, NOTHING would have stopped the incident. Life IS NOT guaranteed. You just have to accept the way the dice rolls. My do however, feel for the ladies family's GREAT loss.

[Mooneyzs]

Yep it was very sad to hear this. I was watching the races myself. Since I live here in AZ about 15 miles away from Firebird. I watched the local news last night on this and they said that the woman was in a wheel chair and didn't see it coming. My heart goes out to this woman and her family. They will be in my prayers.

[Smart-Resins]

Very sadd to hear. To think of the family and pains left behind! what gets me the most however is the track medics released her stating there was no injuries! I hear a major lawsuit there coming on! Jody

[mageckman]

My heart goes out to the family of the deceased. it was just a freak accident that not much of anything, short of not being there, would have prevented. Ummm, Jody? They airlifted her from the track. I don't think that is released and stating no injuries.

[Smart-Resins]

Brown was released by the track medical staff, but went to Chandler Regional Hospital for further observation, according to a statement put out by Don Schumacher Racing before the woman died. The NHRA said Brown wasn’t injured.

Reported by Associated Press

Then how wouldyou read this part of the report?? Jody

[Railfreak78]

I am really surprised that the cars do not have teathers on the tires such as Nascar and Monster Jam is required now. They can still come off but most times the teathers will keep them with the car. Is it a matter of those tires are to big or heavy? I saw it on the local news to and what a shame. It is a risk as a fan you take though. I risk it at Firebird from time to time, Phoenix International 2 times a year and at the monster truck events. Sad for the families though.

[Kris Morgan]

Very sad news to hear. My heart goes out to the victims family. My heart also goes out to Antron Brown. Although it was a complete accident, I would guess he feels horrible.

[Eric Stone]

maybe someone can better explain the tethers? from what i've seen on them they do not keep the wheel and tire assembly from coming off, but retain the spindles or hubs. in the case of something like the wheel studs shearing off the tether would have no effect.

in the case of the accident in this post what came off the car exactly? the tire, tire and wheel? anyone know? i'm not looking for guesses here.

Yeah, I was wondering what exactly you'd tether on a top fuel dragster, since there's no spindle like on something with independent suspension (Indy, F1, or on the front of a Nascar car).

The video on the news showed the wheel/tire assembly coming off, but I don't know if it was from sheared studs, if the end of the axle broke, or what. The camera stays with the car, and not the wheel, so I didn't get a good look because it left the picture pretty quickly. It wasn't like the whole axle came out of the housing or anything, and the tire didn't come apart or away from the wheel.

Edited February 22, 2010 by Eric Stone

[Railfreak78]

Sorry for above post now that I think about it I needed more coffee. I wanted to say watching the evening news now they showed an angle from YouTube that shows the tire bouncing away from the car. I cant tell if the wheel is still in it or not.

[Jon Cole]

...in the case of the accident in this post what came off the car exactly? the tire, tire and wheel? anyone know? i'm not looking for guesses here.

Dave

Well I'm out of luck then Dave. My whole life is a series of guesses (usually bad ones!)

Edited February 23, 2010 by Spyder

[Mooneyzs]

Yeah, I was wondering what exactly you'd tether on a top fuel dragster, since there's no spindle like on something with independent suspension (Indy, F1, or on the front of a Nascar car).

The video on the news showed the wheel/tire assembly coming off, but I don't know if it was from sheared studs, if the end of the axle broke, or what. The camera stays with the car, and not the wheel, so I didn't get a good look because it left the picture pretty quickly. It wasn't like the whole axle came out of the housing or anything, and the tire didn't come apart or away from the wheel.

My guess as well was that either the axle broke or the studs were sheared off. that would be my best guess