Post by Dirt Master on Aug 21, 2005 20:46:14 GMT -5
MOUNT VERNON, Ill. (AP) - A race car crashed into the stands at a southern Illinois track, killing two spectators and injuring six others people, officials said. The driver also was hurt.
State police were trying to determine what caused the car to shoot off the quarter-mile dirt oval Saturday night at Mount Vernon Raceway. The driver was doing a qualification run and was the only car on the track. The track is about 75 miles from St. Louis and
features late-model stock car races.
The car's speed wasn't known, but it flew deep into the stands, said Capt. Conan King of the Jefferson County Fire Protection District.
"I believe there's about 25 rows of bleachers," he said, adding the car landed probably two rows from the top. Witnesses said it crushed spectators against the bleachers.
The dead were identified as Donald Roznowski, 51, and Jeff Conner, 18.Two men sustained major injuries, Jefferson County Sheriff Roger D.
Mulch said. Three other spectators and the driver, Kevin Beatiee, 38, of Benton, had minor injuries.
State police were trying to determine what caused the car to shoot off the quarter-mile dirt oval Saturday night at Mount Vernon Raceway. The driver was doing a qualification run and was the only car on the track. The track is about 75 miles from St. Louis and
features late-model stock car races.
The car's speed wasn't known, but it flew deep into the stands, said Capt. Conan King of the Jefferson County Fire Protection District.
"I believe there's about 25 rows of bleachers," he said, adding the car landed probably two rows from the top. Witnesses said it crushed spectators against the bleachers.
The dead were identified as Donald Roznowski, 51, and Jeff Conner, 18.Two men sustained major injuries, Jefferson County Sheriff Roger D.
Mulch said. Three other spectators and the driver, Kevin Beatiee, 38, of Benton, had minor injuries.