Driver in Deadly Tennessee Drag-Racing Crash Charged With Vehicular Homicide, Ass
(From Australia) 3/20/08
QUEENSLAND race driver Troy Critchley, who was at the wheel of an out-of-control drag racing car which killed six spectators, has been charged with murder.
Critchley, who appeared in a Tennessee court this morning for a bond hearing, will face trial after being charged with six counts of homicide with a vehicle due to recklessness and 22 counts of reckless aggravated assault.
He was placed under a $A38,900 ($US35,000) bond and was ordered to surrender his passport.
The 38-year-old, who was driving the modified drag-racing car that plowed into a crowd during a children's charity parade on June 16, was indicted March 4 but the charges remained under seal until today.
Critchley - who lives in the Texas city of Wylie - was swamped by local media as he left the courthouse with his wife Kimberly and defence lawyer Robert Hutton.
The incident happened when the car careened out of control while Critchley performed a "burnout", where a driver spins the tires of his car to send up clouds of smoke.
The burnout was staged on a city street with no protective barriers between the dragster and hundreds of spectators on both sides.
It took place at the Cars for Kids charity event in the Tennessee town of Selmer, 130km east of Memphis.
Six spectators died from injuries suffered in the crash and 22 victims suffered serious injuries requiring hospitalisation and, in some cases, continued rehabilitation.
The drag racer is also named in lawsuits filed by relatives of victims and people who were hurt.
The suits, some also naming the city and Cars for Kids, contend Critchley was driving recklessly.
The bond hearing in McNairy County Circuit Court featured testimony from several witnesses.
Selmer Police Chief Neil Burks testified at Thursday's hearing that the Cars for Kids charity event was organized and handled the same way as in previous years. He said people were asked to get back from the street.
Testifying as an expert witness for Critchley, race car builder Bobby Umstead said revving the motor did not affect the speed of Critchley's dragster.
A Critchley family friend also testified on his behalf.
Critchley and his lawyer could not be reached for comment.
Texas lawyer William Reid, who has represented Critchley, has previously said the crash had left the Australian driver devastated emotionally and ruined financially.
A special session of the McNairy County Grand Jury indicted Critchley when it convened earlier this month to decide if any criminal charges should be filed in the case.
Tennessee Highway Patrol investigators interviewed more than 250 witnesses relative to the crash, including Critchley and his crew of mechanics.
A specialist team investigators conducted a complete reconstruction of the crash scene
An internationally-recognized expert in crash reconstruction and mechanical inspections was hired to conduct a comprehensive vehicle autopsy of the race car, with the evidence was turned over to District Attorney General Mike Dunavant.
Department of Safety Commissioner Dave Mitchell said the eight-month investigation had been thorough.
"Investigators left no stone unturned in the investigation of this tragic and deadly crash," he said.
Routine blood tests, which Critchley voluntarily submitted, confirmed that he had no drugs or alcohol in his system at the time of the crash.
The detailed documents and reports into the crash remain confidential as part of the on-going prosecution in the case.
Court records show Critchley was convicted of drink driving in Virginia in 2000.
He lost his driver's license for a year and paid $A425 in fines and court costs.
The judge scheduled the trial for November 3.
Drag racer charged over death of six spectators | The Courier-Mail
