8 dead at Washington street race

[DanS]

As far as I have heard, Washington has a pretty hard-core street racing scene. Of course, nothing of this magnitude has happened. Indeed, I've never heard of a street race accident killing this many.

Question to those who may know: Isn't it typical to have at least one lookout, especially on a race of this magnitude?

Warning: The description in the WaPo of what happened and the aftermath is pretty grisly.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/16/AR2008021600642.html?hpid=topnews

By Steve Vogel and Katherine Shaver
Washington Post Staff Writers
Saturday, February 16, 2008; 6:12 PM

Eight people are dead and at least five injured after police said a car struck a group of people who were watching an illegal race early today in southern Prince George's County, marking one of the deadliest street racing incidents in the Washington area.

The Ford Crown Victoria that struck the spectators about 3 a.m. had not taken part in the race. The driver told police that he was blinded by a cloud of white smoke and debris kicked up by the spinning wheels of two vehicles that had just taken off to race along Indian Head Highway (Route 210) near Pine Drive in Accokeek. Although police initially said the accident took place at the end of the race, authorities and witnesses now say the crash occurred at the start of the contest.

[Darius871]

Re: 8 dead at Washington street race

Originally posted by DanS
Warning: The description in the WaPo of what happened and the aftermath is pretty grisly.

Come on Dan, don't be shy:

Spoiler:

Witnesses and police described a grisly scene. People flew 15 feet in the air as they slammed off the car's hood and roof, which became covered in blood. Shoes and pieces of clothing were scattered along the grassy median for 200 yards. Investigators marked the pavement with spray paint. Below one circle, they sprayed "hat." Next to another, "2 shoes." A third fluorescent mark said "body."

Steve Swann, 36, of Fort Washington witnessed the crash. "It sounded like a bunch of booms -- boom, boom, boom, boom," he said. "Then, everything came to a stop."
...
A tractor-trailer driver, whose name was not released, struck one of the bodies after coming upon the scene, police said.

[Colonâ„¢]

Nothing much that can be said or done about it...

[SlowwHand]

Normally, yes. There's a person to start, and flag the winner (particularly dangerous), as well as spotters watching for traffic, to include cops.
That's in the day. I don't know how stupid kids have gotten.

[Heresson]

Yet another victims of teh racism in USA

[OzzyKP]

[Straybow]

Sucks to die doing something stupid. Go to a legal drag strip, dudes.

[Darius871]

Originally posted by Straybow
Sucks to die doing something stupid. Go to a legal drag strip, dudes.

What, "safe" legal events like these?

[Elok]

This wasn't Washington; it was P.G. County, D.C.'s midden. The only place in the District as bad as P.G. is Anacostia and the surrounding area.

[Wezil]

So people that think watching street racing is cool got killed. Where's the problem?

[Thoth]

Originally posted by Straybow
Sucks to die doing something stupid.

Think of it as evolution in action.