This horrific accident took the lives of two spectators and injured several others. Surely this means the end of auto racing! We've all heard that it takes just one serious accident to end a hobby forever. So auto racing will be permanently shut down by the government now, right? ;)
---------------------------------------- Crash Kills 2 Spectators at Ill. Raceway
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 track Saturday night at Mount Vernon Raceway. It was the only vehicle on the track at the time. The driver was doing a qualification run.
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. The car ``landed probably two rows from the top.''
Jefferson County Sheriff Roger D. Mulch said two men suffered major injuries. Three other spectators and the driver, Kevin Beatiee, 38, of Benton, suffered minor injuries.
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