Yahoo News Montana demolition derby crash: One dead and seven injured as car loses control and ploughs into spectators
A woman has been killed and seven others - including a one year-old child - injured after a racing car lost control and ploughed into spectators.
The fatal victim was in her 30s, police said after the crash on Sunday at the demolition derby on Powell County Fairgrounds, Deer Lodge, Montana.
A driver is reported to have lost control with the car launching over the top of the arena fence, landing on the crowds below.
Three others were in hospital in a stable condition, while another person was airlifted to another medical centre.
A popular spectator sport, demolition derbies have been a staple feature of American race tracks since the Second World War and usually involve old cars repeatedly bashing into each other until one vehicle remains running.
Police said that when the driver "came out of the turn he was unable to control the vehicle in any way. He ended up going over the top of the fence."
Eyewitnesses reported medics administering CPR after the crash, which left the driver unscathed.
Meagan Beckett, who has training as a nurse, said she ran to help and saw responders performing CPR on some victims. “One gentleman had a neck brace on,” she said. “He seemed to be in a lot of pain.”
Victoria Lopez said "it was sad and scary,” adding the driver “flew right through the fence where several people were at”.
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She added: “They took off running, but not all made it.”
Former promoter Tory Schutte, of Wisconsin, estimated that about 5,000 derbies are held each year at county fairs nationwide, but was aware of fewer than a handful of deaths taking place since he became involved in the activity in the 1970s.
“People get so excited about everything going on they just keep shifting towards the track,” he said. “It's the opposite of what our instincts would be.”
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