Fan Killed. Many Injured: One spectator died and at least 11 others at an auto race were injured late Saturday when two cars went into the stands. Three people were taken from Lorain County Speedway in medical helicopters to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, about 40 miles east of the track. A nursing supervisor at the hospital said Virginia Wyleth, 65, was pronounced dead early Sunday, about five minutes after she was brought into the emergency room. The supervisor said Wyleth had extensive injuries. She did not immediately know Wyleth’s hometown. The names of the two other people brought to the hospital were not available. A nursing supervisor identified them as a 19-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman and said both were listed in satisfactory condition with leg injuries. A third injured person, Ivan Zirkle, 69, of Avon, was flown to the hospital from Community Health Partners, a hospital system in Lorain. He was listed in satisfactory condition with spinal injuries. Others were taken to hospitals throughout the area. Lorain County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Jim Drozdowski said at the track that he was told 12 or 13 people were injured and were taken for treatment in helicopters or ambulances. The accident occurred about 11:30pm Saturday. “Two of the cars accelerated and bumped and the drivers lost control, went over a guard rail, took out a fence and hit a set of stands,” Drozdowski said. Rich Rankin, operations manager for the track, said it has a seating capacity of about 2,700 spectators. He said the crowd at the time of the accident was considerably smaller than that, but he would not estimate a number. He said the two cars involved did not flip and did not catch fire. He also said the two drivers were treated at the scene and did not appear to be badly hurt. A rainstorm at the track about two hours earlier was not a factor because the track was dry, he said. “I can’t really say how the accident occurred. We’ve got to put it together. It’s far too early in the investigation to say what happened, and I think this is going to take a while to sort out,” Rankin said. Bob Hennings said he was driving his car in the race on the speedway’s three-eighths mile banked, oval track when the crash occurred. “Two cars ahead of me shortly after the green flag (to start the race) got involved and hit a guardrail and went up and over into the stands. It was a bad accident. But it’s usually a safe track,” Hennings said. Lorain County Speedway runs Saturday night NASCAR Weekly Racing Series events in five race divisions: NASCAR Racing Series Late Models, Modifieds, Sportsman, Grand Nationals and Spectator Stocks. It features mostly local drivers and is in its 53rd season of racing. Hennings said 17 drivers were racing in a Late Models event when the accident occurred.(ESPN/AP)(7-22-2001)
