NASCAR Probes Track Issues after Daytona 500 Accident
Posted on February 27, 2013 Written By: iadminlaw
The 12 car crash that occurred on the last lap of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Daytona Speedway sent debris sailing through a hole in that broke in the safety fence. Over two dozen fans were injured in the wreck.
28 fans were treated for injuries, half at the track’s center and the other 14 at hospitals nearby. Seven fans were still hospitalized Sunday, but they were in stable condition. The accident occurred after Kyle Larson was knocked airborne into the fence and 22-foot barrier of steel posts. The fence caught the front of the car, but a wheel and engine were tangled in the fence. One wheel landed in the stands, nine rows from the fence.
Track owners are now being prompted to look at the safety concerns involved. Raising fences or moving spectators further away from the dangerous ledge of the fence are some of the ideas being touted by other speedway track owners. The seats are currently just 10 feet back from the fence.
The issue is that if a wheel went over the fence during the crash, it would mean that engineers would need to be consulted to figure out a way to build a fence that could withstand the forces of an airborne race car.
The other issue is that the track owners would be forced to give up the first few rows of seats which would be a loss of revenue for the speedway.
The speedway will be conducting a full investigation into the crash. Any improvements that are found to be necessary will be made, according to officials. Drivers were among the shaken individuals after the race. Media coverage of the win was delayed and subdued out of respect.
If you or someone you know has been involved in an accident, please contact a personal injury lawyer at Accident Attorney’s Group.
