Free Initial Consultation (714) 835-1404
Tragedy struck at the races over the weekend. A man was killed Saturday in an accident at Bakersfield Speedway. The 54-year-old accident victim was serving dual roles as a race official and a tow truck driver at the event. Track officials often are located on the infield area of the track—four officials were positioned on the infield during Saturday’s race on the short track.
Authorities say that the accident victim was standing next to his tow truck on the infield. He was located behind a protective K-rail, which the California Department of Transportation recognizes as the current standard for temporary safety barriers which are often used for worker safety in work zones. The heavy concrete barriers may also be used in semi-permanent settings.
In Saturday’s accident, a stock car struck the protective barrier near where the man was standing between the number 2 and 3 turns on the track. The car ran up on the rail, striking the race official before the car slid another 40 feet down the concrete barrier, coming to a rest on top of the barrier.
Another race official who was stationed on turn four says that such serious accidents are rare. He witnessed the tragic event, but would only say that the accident victim had been positioned behind the barrier on the back straightaway when the accident occurred, according to the Bakersfield Californian.
The injured race official was transported to Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, but officials say that he did not survive—sadly, he was pronounced dead at the hospital Saturday evening.
Many roles, jobs and occupations may be surrounded by dangerous conditions. Safety devices and other measures may be in place to protect workers from injury or death, but accidents may still occur in a work environment. Officials from the raceway and fans alike have offered condolences to the family of the fatal accident victim. He had been associated with the track since 2009.
Source: The Bakersfield Californian, “Race official was in routine position,” Aug. 11, 2013
Schedule a free initial Consultation to Discuss
Call 714-835-1404 or Email us
1551 N. Tustin Ave., Ste. 850
Santa Ana, CA 92705
Phone: 714-835-1404
Fax: 714-558-8419
© 2023 Leviton Diaz & Ginocchio, Inc • All Rights Reserved
Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy
Leviton Diaz & Ginocchio represents clients throughout California in the cities of Santa Ana, Orange, Tustin, Garden Grove, Anaheim, Westminster, Irvine, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach, Costa Mesa, Fountain Valley, Fullerton, Placentia, Cypress, Buena Park and Yorba Linda, as well as the greater regions of Orange County, Los Angeles County, San Bernardino County, Riverside County Bakersfield and the Inland Empire.