MARTINSVILLE, Va. – 22 fans received non-life threating injuries after a car collided with them near the helipad following Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody’s 500 at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway.
Track president Clay Campbell confirmed the incident exclusively to CATCHFENCE.com and Motorsport.com though Campbell had little details of what transpired.
“All we know now is a vehicle, we don’t know exactly what happened with the vehicle, did run into at least 10 pedestrians and we’re treating the ones we can take to the (infield) care center here,” Campbell told CATCHFENCE.com. “The others are being treated at Memorial Hospital.
“I really don’t have anything else to tell you at this point.”
Virginia State Police spokeswoman Corrine Geller spoke with Sirius XM NASCAR Radio Sunday night, confirming that 22 pedestrians leaving Martinsville Speedway following Sunday’s Cup race were struck by a black Chevrolet SSR Convertible. The first call for help according to Geller came at 5:38 p.m. ET.
All victims are between the ages of 13 and 65. Thirteen were treated at the scene with minor injuries while seven were sent to a local hospital in Martinsville, with the other two to a hospital in Eden, N.C.
Because of the location of the incident, behind Turns 1 and 2 of the speedway and the parking area involved, Campbell said he assumed it was an attendee of the race driving the involved vehicle.
Per witnesses at the scene, the accident occurred nearly 30 minutes after the race. The driver involved jumped the traffic line and ran into the fans that were awaiting drivers coming to the helipad following the race.
Campbell said the driver of the vehicle had been taken into custody.
Geller also mentioned on SiriusXM that alcohol did not appear to be a contributing factor and charges are pending.
Follow Chris Knight on Twitter @Knighter01.
