A former firefighter and veteran safety official was killed, and another seriously injured, after their all-terrain vehicles collided while responding to a crash during a World of Outlaws sprint car event in Texas.
The World of Outlaws racing organisation identified the deceased as Billy Hurt, a well-known figure in the sprint car community. The second official, Jerry Myers, was taken to hospital with serious injuries and is reported to be stable and recovering.
The incident occurred just before 9 pm on Saturday at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, near Fort Worth. According to Kennedale Police, the two officials were responding to an on-track accident when their ATVs struck each other, throwing both men from their vehicles. The race was cancelled shortly afterwards.
Spectators described the collision as a freak accident. Tommy Williams Jr., a race fan who witnessed the scene, told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth: “This is a freak accident. I’ve never seen anything like that in the infield. It was all a shock.”
Tributes have poured in from across the racing world. World Racing Group CEO Brian Carter said: “Beyond his professionalism, Billy exemplified what it meant to be a good person, always putting others before himself. He dedicated his life to ensuring the safety of every racer.” Sprint car driver Brian Brown added: “So many times the spotlight is on the drivers, but the truth is none of us do what we do without the brave men and women standing on the other side of the wall.”
Hurt was also an expert instructor in vehicle extrication, training firefighters across Missouri. The Sedalia Firefighters Union said: “Because of Billy’s dedication to training and education, every citizen who travels through our region is safer. His knowledge, skill, and commitment to the fire service will have a lasting impact for years to come.”
