MARYSVILLE, CA – Two people were killed after a sprint car lost control at the Marysville Raceway Park Saturday evening.
An announcer at the track Steven Blakesley told ABC News the car, driven by Chase Johnson, had apparent mechanical problems and did not make the corner at turn 1. The car hit the left wall and then crashed into the two victims.
Blakesley said one of the victims is the driver’s 14-year-old cousin and a 68-year-old owner of a few cars in the race.
The Yuba County Sheriff’s Department said the older man was pronounced dead at the scene; the teen was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The sheriff’s department said no other people were injured.
The crash happened during hot laps, which started at 6 p.m. The race was scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
Crowds were at the park for the California Sprint Car Civil War Series. Events at the raceway have been cancelled after the crash.
The 30 teams who entered in the race have donated their combined entrance fee of around $10,000 to the families of the victims, Blakesley told ABC News.
On its Facebook page, the Marysville Raceway Park posted, “Our thoughts and deepest prayers go out to everyone. Out of respect we will not elaborate on details. We ask everyone to respect each other and the families.”