4 hit by racecar at track

[Dirt Master]

From the Rome New Tribune

4 hit by racecar at track


09/05/06
By Heath Hooper, Rome News-Tribune Staff Writer
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A Canton woman was in Redmond Regional Medical Center Monday after being struck by a car at Rome International Speedway Sunday night, authorities said.

According to Floyd County Police Officer Tom Raykovics, Speedway Vice President Mike Swim and hospital authorities:

The incident occurred around 10:45 p.m. Sunday in the racetrack’s pit areas when the left front brakes of a Ford Mustang driven by David Frank Waits, Social Circle, locked up as it entered the area following a flat tire.

The car veered sharply and struck Will McConnell, 4, Morgan McConnell, 6, and Rhonda McConnell, 30, address unknown, and Tanya Garrett, 30, of Canton, who were standing in the infield near racing trailers.

All four were taken to Redmond Sunday night and later released, authorities said, though Garrett returned to the emergency room on Monday, where she remained Monday night. Her condition was unavailable.

[billy]

Dirt Master

I was told Thursday that the lil boy was moved to a children`s healthcare in Atlanta. By David Waits uncle Ronnie Waits. I have Ronnie`s race car here working on it and I was talking to him about it. He told me it was not the brakes it was the steering U - Joint broke on the car. That is about all I know at this time.

[car13]

this was posted on 4m.net by the mother of the kids that were hit:

btw someone asked me since they knew i am a photograher also, it wasn't me that was taking pics of the accident



I would like to thank everyone for all the thoughts and prayers. I would like to especially thank all of our friends, other individuals, and track officials for assisting with my children, myself and Tanya.

My children are doing well considering. My daughter was released from Redman around 5:00 A.M. Monday morning with a knot on her head and bruising on her back. My son was transferred to Scottish Rite of Atlanta with a hairline fracture to the front part of his skull and abrasions to his face and left leg. He was released Monday evening. The doctors said he will make a full recovery and that his skull will heal within time and return for a check up in 2 weeks. Tanya is recovering as well she has a sore neck, and left arm.

I am aware of several different stories that are going around as to what happen and I would like to set the record straight. Me and Tanya were standing next to my children while they were sitting to the side next to another trailer near the rear of the trailer playing with their cars in the dirt until the late models race. They were away from the traffic coming in the pits. A pony stock car came in the pits with a flat left front tire and when it got to our trailer it suddenly veered left. First the car hit Tanya, then me when I was trying to get to the children. My daughter went under the front of the car and my son was hit with the left front of the car and knocked into Danny Carters car. I was able to get to my son first and Tanya and other individuals were able to get my daughter.

This was an unfortunate freak accident that occurred and no one is to blame. I know that they are individuals that do not want children allowed in the pits. I could understand this if children were running wildly in the pits but this was definitely not the case in this accident. I think that the precautious that Mike Swims takes in allowing children in the pits is approriate. Children are to be supervised at all times and if the children are caught not being supervised they are escorted out of the pits.

Dirt Track racing is a family oriented atmosphere and the children have a right to be apart of this. I have been going to the races since I was an infant as well as my siblings Pete and Lynn. I have travel around to several races out of state with my children since my daughter was 3 weeks old. My siblings have done the same with their children for years. Their are many families that have husbands or boyfriends that drive or work on the cars and travel and do not get to spend alot of time with there families and their wives or girlfriends come to the races with their children to be apart of it. There are many children that are extremely involved in going to the races and more into it than most adults.

It is also to my understanding that there was a photographer (not Kevin Prater) taking pictures of my injured children and the accident. I do not appreciate this. I would hope that this person has better taste than to develop or distribute the pictures. I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND AGAINST THIS.

Again, Thank You for all your thoughts and prayers!

Sincerely,

Rhonda Cochran

Go 24!!! HogBone Racing

[billy]

administator

Thanks for posting and letting us all know they are doing good. And the mam is right on. Hope they all get back to the track soon.