As per the authorities, a drag racer got out of control at an airport runway during the event “Airport Race Wars 2” and crashed into spectators. The incident left 2 children dead while 8 other people were injured.
The police reports reveal that the children were a 6-year-old and an 8-year-old boy. And the crash happened when the drivers sped up on the runway at Kerrville-Kerr County Airport, Texas. The event was attended by a huge crowd and the drivers were competing for a big cash prize.
In a statement regarding the incident, Police said that the driver “lost control and left the runway, crashing into parked vehicles and striking spectators who were observing the races.”
Soon after the crash, the children who succumbed to the injuries were taken to the nearby hospital. Apart from that, a 24-year-old woman, whose condition is said to be critical, was also taken to the hospital. Moreover, a 26-year-old man whose condition is unknown is also reported to be admitted along with a 4-year-old and an 8 months old who was taken to the hospital as a precautionary measure to evaluate they don’t have any unseen injury.
However, the authorities kept the identities of the dead victims to themselves initially. The organized event, “Airport Race Wars 2” was promoted on the Visitors Bureau and Kerrville Convention’s site as an “action-packed, family-friendly day,” where the families can unwind and enjoy “fastest drag cars compete for over $8000 in total prizes.”
As per an independent journalist, Louis Amestoy who was attending the event, the total spectators’ count was over 3500.
One of the organizing members, Amestoy revealed that the race was 2. km long where water-filled barriers were put. However, there was no barrier kept between the spectators and the racers passing the finish line as the committee thought that the racers would be slowing down by the end of the race. However, Amestoy also said that the spectators were already warned to be on the grass and 15 feet away from the track. He also added that the crash happened near the end of the race.
