CA: Spectators killed at US California 200 off-road race (Lucerne Valley )

BBC ^ | 15 August 2010 Last updated at 18:30 ET | BBC Staff

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Video at Website:

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Eyewitnesses described people "flying in all directions"

At least eight people have been killed after a 4x4 vehicle careered into a crowd watching an off-road motor race in California.

Twelve other people were injured in the crash, at the California 200 desert night race near Lucerne Valley, 100 miles (160km) from Los Angeles.

The driver, named as 28-year-old Brett Sloppy, was unhurt and reportedly fled the scene to avoid an angry crowd.

Police said Mr Sloppy, from the San Diego area, would not be charged.

Joaquin Zubieta, of the California Highway Patrol, said state vehicle laws did not apply because it was a sanctioned racing event held with the approval of the federal Bureau of Land Management.

[hecht]

Death Race 2010?

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Lucerne Valley is South of Barstow , East of Victorville and Apple Valley and down the hill from Big Bear.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Sloppy indeed...

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Tens of thousands of spectators attend the annual race, which takes place on a 50-mile off-road track.

[dragnet2]

The desert can be a dangerous place...Standing next to a dirt road where 75 mph vehicles are flying by, during an off road race, can make it even more dangerous.

[johnthebaptistmoore]

This really was an off-road race!

[Doc Savage]

Did they do a breathalyzer? Had he used narcotics? Was he mentally-incompetent? Did he do it on purpose?

No,no,no, the best advice is to simply allow him to walk away. Very SLOPPY of the Ca. Hwy. Patrol, and how liberal!!

[Man50D]

It was amazing the spectators were allowed to stand right at the road’s edge while the vehicles went by at 70 MPH! WTF were these people thinking?

[gunsequalfreedom]

From the video: “They allow us to stand whereever we want on the track so everyones tries to get as close as they can.”

[REDWOOD99]

Bit of Sloppy driving did ‘em in, what?

[ColdOne]

Sloppy indeed... I wanted to say that... I just did not want to be the first one!

[Figment]

Darwin awards for them all

[MarineBrat]

Tragic but predictable. That’s racing... and that’s why people find it exciting. Of course we all know that Big Brother is eventually going to outlaw motorsports that don’t pitch in enough money to Dim voting groups.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They say it was a race course,...but I don't think they use a road...

They were probably getting ready for the Baja California races...watch a video of those sometime,...spectators close to the course and vehicles flying by...coming off the ground as they go over hillocks...etc....

I think they lose people down there too.

[Figment]

“The desert can be a dangerous place...Standing next to a dirt road where 75 mph vehicles are flying by, during an off road race, can make it even more dangerous”

I’m sure the driver was wearing a seatbelt and helmet. What were the nitwit spectators doing for safety?

[ColdOne]

reportedly fled the scene to avoid an angry crowd. Really what were these people thinking?

[Niteflyr]

I think they lose people down there too.

Yeah but in Mexico it's considered thinning the herd...doesn't even make the news...

[dragnet2]

Did they do a breathalyzer? Had he used narcotics? Was he mentally-incompetent? Did he do it on purpose?

The driver was just released from a state mental institution, and he got really pissed because they took his last two bottles of tequila, so he decided to plow into the crowd kamikaze style.

[bvw]

Real people died here. The jokes are ... creepy.

Has it gotten THIS bad in America under the usurper?

[dragnet2]

The jokes are ... creepy.

And some of the comments begged to be mocked.

[LasVegasMac]

Never been to an off-road race, but you know it all.

[NavyCanDo]

from what I have heard, it seems to have been the race organizers fault for allowing the people to gather as near as ten feet from the race course, hen they were suppose to be 100 or more feet back .

[listenhillary]

I hope there isn’t a Mrs.Sloppy. Maybe she would have sense to not take his name in marriage.

[Conservative4Ever]

Heard helicopters last night late going over the house. Wondered what was up...figured they were military coming/going to 29 palms...maybe the injured going to Loma Linda. Prayers for the families.

[dragnet2]

This is the same thing they did in Baja for years and still do...If you're stupid enough to go to Mexico nowadays.

It's damn near suicide for people to get so close they can high five off road drivers flying by at 75 mph.

People do crazy things...Some pay big for their actions.

[DAC21]

Sad indeed, one of the Race Teams asked me to attend this event, but I'm in N. Cal as I write this on vacation. I have ridden ATV’s on portions of this track many times....fans should be no where near the landing side of any jump on ANY course. I suspect BLM will take the majority of the law suits.

[Doogle]

http://video.foxnews.com/v/4311672/amateur-footage-of-deadly-off-road-crash

[dragnet2]

You bet...But jump or no jump, ya can't get too close to the vehicles flying by.

Easy fix to put up simple cones and stop the race immediately if anyone crosses the cone zone....The spectators would police themselves or the race don't happen.

[US_MilitaryRules]

What the he11 are you smoking? Do they test Nascar drivers when they crash into about 10 cars? What a moronic statement.

[TWohlford]

“Very SLOPPY of the Ca. Hwy. Patrol, and how liberal!!”

Uh, dude, this was a SANCTIONED auto race, where the injured and killed were SPECTATORS.

[TWohlford]

Elkhart Lake had a personal injury wreck in 1952 when sports car races were held in public streets. A bit later in 1952, spectators were killed in Watkins Glen.

That is why you have custom-built road-racing courses in both areas.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Standing 10 feet from a dirt track with no guard rails where trucks are driving 100+ mph?

Mr. Darwin approves!

[OrangeHoof]

I hope there isn’t a Mrs.Sloppy. Maybe she would have sense to not take his name in marriage.

And the children, no doubt, would be known as....(self-censored).

[historyrepeatz]

It does beg the question, however.. Are NASCAR drivers drug tested prior to the race? Probably are, and the public is shielded from the cars.. Are off-road racers tested, BECAUSE THE PUBLIC ISN’T SHIELDED FROM THE CARS?

[tubebender]

BLM is looking for a excuse like this to ban all motor sports from”Their Land”...

[higgmeister]

Darwin awards for them all

No, No, No, only those that qualify should receive the Darwin.

[moehoward]

FIA Rally races sometimes take out spectators too. Sometimes when they cross the course, sometimes when the drivers go off course. It’s just part of the deal.

[BigIsleGal]

I love watching “air shows” on TV, seems a lot of spectators on site were being killed.

[Wally_Kalbacken]

Were the folks paying spectators or just folks who congregated along the course out in the desert? I can imagine that the owners of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway owe one duty of care to the people who pay to sit in the stands - but if these are just observers who place themselves along the course - the duty would be different for whomever organizes this fiasco. I wouldn’t want to be their insurer.

I’ve watched the Pikes peak videos (check YouTube), and you can imagine a lot of similar opportunities to pick off spectators on that route.

[MediaMole]

NASCAR drivers are subject to frequent drug and alcohol screenings. Jeremy Mayfield has been banned for testing positive for meth.

[Pelham]

“I’m sure the driver was wearing a seatbelt and helmet. What were the nitwit spectators doing for safety?”

Holding cups of beer.

[Pontiac]

Easy fix to put up simple cones and stop the race immediately if anyone crosses the cone zone....

“Trash” talk?

The race takes place on a takes place on a 50-mile off-road track through a dry river bed at night where the only lighting is that supplied by the cars; just how do you enforce your safety zone?

With a course 50 miles long how many cones would it take to set up safety zones? With one every 50 feet I figure 10560 cones. I don’t know how much cones cost but I figure it would be a lot for a small race organization to afford.

How many safety observers would it take to watch a fifty mile course that is unlit at night? How would they see? Night vision equipment?

I am pretty liberal on personal safety issues. I believe in such situations you are responsible for your own safety. If you want to risk your life watching someone else risk theirs it is your own business and your own liability. If you get killed in the process of not following the course rules you and your heirs have no right to sue and the race organizers/drivers have no liability.

Anyone with any common sense knows that you do not stand close to an un protected race course. Even the protected ones are not accident proof. Wherever you go what ever you do ultimately you are responsible for your own life. After all no one can give it back to you.

[dragnet2]

You don't seem familiar with this place...Most of the spectators group in several areas, not all over the 50 mile course.

How many safety observers would it take to watch a fifty mile course

A few dozen, mostly where the spectators are, in and around the lake bed area.

How would they see? Night vision equipment?

You do realize this incident took place in day light hours right?

I believe in such situations you are responsible for your own safety. If you get killed in the process of not following the course rules you and your heirs have no right to sue and the race organizers/drivers have no liability. Anyone with any common sense knows that you do not stand close to an un protected race course

Agree.

[Pontiac]

You do realize this incident took place in day light hours right?

Actually I depend solely on what is printed in the article. The following is from the article and is what lead me to make the comment in question.

The race goes through a dry river bed in the southern California desert. The course is illuminated only by spotlights mounted on the cars.

This leads me to assume that the race is run at least partly at night. If the race was run in daylight hours this comment would be meaningless.

[dragnet2]

This incident took place in day light as the video clearly indicates. Most races in regards to this sponsor are run in day light hours. Yes this particular race is run partly at night.

Bottom line? As I indicated early on up thread, those that stand too close do so at their own risk, and the sponsor should assume no liability.

[Figment]

“No, No, No, only those that qualify should receive the Darwin”

You’re right, of course, only the 8 dead get the award. The rest just need to try harder next time

[higgmeister]

“No, No, No, only those that qualify should receive the Darwin” You’re right, of course, only the 8 dead get the award. The rest just need to try harder next time.

The Darwin award is only awarded to those that have not passed on their genes yet. If anyone had already become a parent, they cannot win the Darwin award.

Brian Wolfin with his son Seth. Brian Wolfin, of Escondido, was one of eight people killed Saturday in a crash during an off-road vehicle race. (Courtesy Photo)

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Anthony Sanchez with his son Atreyu Sanchez. Anthony Sanchez, of Escondido, was one of eight people killed Saturday in a crash during an off-road vehicle race. (Courtesy Photo)

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REGION: 3 Escondido men killed in race accident involving San Marcos driver

I didn't make up the rules and my heart goes out to these children.