A person has died and another has been left seriously injured after a crash between two emergency vehicles at a World of Outlaws event in Texas.
The incident happened late on Saturday night at Kennedale Speedway Park, outside of Fort Worth.
According to multiple social media reports, driver Marcus Thomas had flipped his car and the emergency vehicles then collided as they tried to help him.
Organizers said in a short statement Sunday morning: ‘While officials were responding to an incident at Kennedale Speedway Park on Saturday night, two emergency vehicles collided, resulting in serious injury to one official and a fatal injury to another.
‘There is an ongoing investigation of the incident. The remainder of the event was postponed.
‘Everybody in the racing community, and those affected, appreciates your thoughts and prayers.’
A World of Outlaws race in Texas ended in tragedy on Saturday night after a person died
The traveling dirt track race series is hugely popular, with events around the United States
Neither person involved in the accident has been named by the organization, not has there been an official update on the condition of Thomas following his initial crash.
World of Outlaws is a popular national touring dirt track race series – known by fans as ‘the greatest show on dirt’ – with events this year scheduled across the United States up until November.
Series racer Carson Macedo posted on X on Sunday morning: ‘Please keep the World of Outlaws family in your thoughts and prayers after last night’s horrible incident.
‘Praying hard for the officials, their families, and everyone involved.’
And after the news broke, many racing fans who were in attendance on Saturday night paid tribute to the person who passed away.
‘They were both going to the accident site,’ one fan wrote on X. ‘It shows how much respect we need to give these safety responders.
‘They put their lives at risk to ensure the safety of the drivers. I hope we do a race in honor of the safety crew in the future.’
Another said: ‘I’ll never forget the sound it made when they collided, the whole crowd just gasped and then silence. I was sitting in the pit grandstands, immediately knew it was a bad deal.’
A different reply said: ‘Deepest condolences to all that knew the Official who tragically passed away. Prayers for a Speedy recovery to the Official who was injured.’
