SAFETY SAFARI MEMBER RECOVERING FROM LAS VEGAS QUALIFYING ACCIDENT- UPDATE

By Susan Wade    Sun, 2019-04-07 14:00


 

Racing was delayed Saturday afternoon at the Denso Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals during the final session of Pro Stock qualifying because a member of the Safety Safari crew was injured in a freakish accident in the turnout area, when she was swept up in the parachute of Alex Laughlin.

A source close to the situation told CompetitionPlus.com the injured employee was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.

Jessica Hatcher, NHRA senior director of public relations and communications, said late Saturday the series could not comment on the situation at this time but will keep the racing community apprised as details become available.  She issued the following statement Sunday afternoon: “Yesterday at the DENSO Spark Plugs NHRA Four-Wide Nationals, an NHRA official was injured after a parachute re-blossomed as a car exited the track. The official is expected to make a full recovery and appreciates everyone’s well wishes but asks for some privacy at the moment.”

The incident happened at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway when, undetectably to Laughlin, his dragging parachute re-blossomed with a gust of wind and wrapped around the Safety Safari member's legs, knocked her to the ground, and dragged her for a few feet behind the car. Alert Safety Safari crew members chased down Laughlin’s car and instructed him to stop.

Laughlin posted Saturday on his social-media platform the following message:

“In case you didn’t see the video of the accident today at the top end in Q4 in Vegas. My parachute caught a gust of wind as I was pulling off the race track swiped (for lack of a better word) one of the NHRA officials and drug HER for (thank goodness) only a short distance. She was taken to the hospital and been through x-rays ok and up for cat-scans next. It was a freak accident and I just ask you all to say a little prayer for her and her family tonight.”

 

 

 

 

 

 
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