Another Motorsports Tragedy (1 Viewer)

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Debris kills boy in stands at Tacoma monster truck show

TACOMA — Debris flew into the grandstands at a monster truck show in Washington state, killing a 6-year-old boy and injuring another spectator, witnesses and city officials said Saturday.

A red truck came apart while doing doughnuts during the freestyle competition of Friday night's Monster Jam show, the witnesses said. Debris from the truck flew 30 to 50 feet over a safety barrier into the stands.

"Parts were falling off and a piece flew up and hit a little boy," Christine Moe told King Television of Seattle.

Police Officer Mark Fulghum said officers serving as security at the Tacoma Dome investigated the accident.

"At this point, there's nothing to indicate that there's anything criminal," Fulghum told The Associated Press on Saturday night. "Right now it looks like a tragic accident."

The Pierce County medical examiner's office identified the boy killed as Sabastian Hizey of Puyallup.

The boy's father, Jessie Hizey, issued a statement to KIRO-TV on Saturday that said his son was hit in the head by a Frisbee-sized piece of metal, weighing between 7 and 12 pounds.

"I cannot get the images" out of my head, the father said.

The man who was injured was taken to a hospital Friday night, but Robert McNair-Huff, community relations manager for the city, said the man's identity was not available Saturday.

Some spectators told the TV station they had to throw cups off the stands to get the attention of medics. The show continued after the two were hurt, and many spectators left.

"They just kept going," Moe said. "We grabbed our kids and just bee-lined out of there."

Laurie Deranleau, 32, a nurse from Westport, told The News Tribune, "Everybody sitting around thought they should have dropped the show and gave the family some respect. Nobody was paying attention to the show."

The Tacoma Dome was continuing with four Monster Jam shows on Saturday and Sunday.

McNair-Huff said the promoter, Feld Motorsports, promised more inspections of trucks in the show and that the truck involved in the accident would be withdrawn.

The company based in Aurora, Ill., did not respond to requests for comment Saturday from The Associated Press.

A statement it released Friday night said: "Our company follows strict safety guidelines designed to protect both spectators and competitors alike."

(article Cut & pasted from the Daily news newspaper)

 

[BaldyLochs]

This is terrible. I must admit, with the present state of NHRA, I've been getting a little bit google-eyed about Monster Truck racing lately... thinking I might pay more attention to it. I followed it pretty heavily in the early 80's, no doubt from my Pontiac Silverdome days.... when the full frame, front engine, all steel-bodied trucks with planetaries and terra's were en vogue, and seeing one idle up to 4 junk cars, then nail it, pop a wheelie and drive over top of them was the ultimate thrill. I had a buddy who's uncle was a player in the truck pulling scene in Michigan, which was huge then.

I was all hyped to go see Monster Jam in Denver next month. But now, I'm not so sure. Especially in a ridiculously small venue like the Pepsi Center. I think that's one major flaw of Monster Jam. They try to cram the shows into places with litreally, a surface the size of a hockey rink.... and when you compare that to an outdoor football stadium venue or the Silverdome.... it just plain sucks.

 

[DrRocket]

Really sad to hear about the poor kid. My thoughts to his parents and friends.

When that story was posted on the local daily blab's website, the comments section was filled with the predictable cries for the abolition of all motorsports. People who feel the need to tell other people what their hobbies should be.

 

[Terry]

Really sad to hear about the poor kid. My thoughts to his parents and friends.

When that story was posted on the local daily blab's website, the comments section was filled with the predictable cries for the abolition of all motorsports. People who feel the need to tell other people what their hobbies should be.

Oh, man, David, I can just hear them now--a very sad situation indeed, thoughts and prayers to the family, and a prayer for guidance and education for the motorsports detractors who do so mostly out of ignorance of the very thing they are railing against.....

 

[Nitrohaulic]

If the same cries could proportionately go out for abolition of drunk driving? I guess those victims don't matter as much? The old saying? If you're one death, you're a crisis. One of many and you're a statistic? Do you think ANY of those people have ever posted on drunk driving death stories? I bet not.