Inspection Detail

Inspection: 301970489 - Auburndale Speedway

Inspection Information - Office: Tampa Area Office

Investigation Summary

On July 18, 1998, Employee #1 was directing a "Figure 8" automobile race. During the starting line-up of a "Figure 8" race Employee #1 was out on the track. He was near the point where the cars in the race would come out of a turn and cross the intersection in the center of the track. The 19 cars in the race were also on the track and were lined up two deep, side by side, approaching the east end of the track. The cars were just finishing warming up in preparation for the starter's signal to start the race. Employee #1 was on the track five to ten feet away from the outside wall of the track and 25 feet from the cars driving by in the line-up, where he could be seen by drivers, signaling the drivers that they were coming into the final line-up lap before the race started. Most of the cars had passed Employee #1 when a race car on the inside of the line-up bumped a car beside it on the outside of the line-up. This bump caused the car on the outside to lose control and run straight down the main track, instead of turning and crossing the "X" intersection of the "Figure 8" in the center of the track. The car struck Employee #1 causing severe injuries which led to his death.

Keywords: SIGNALMAN, FLAGMAN, RACETRACK, AUTOMOBILE, STRUCK BY