At least 10 NASCAR fans have been struck by a car at Martinsville Speedway after an apparent road rage incident near the track’s helipad.
Spectators had gathered near the trackside helipad after the race to try and gain autographs when a black Chevrolet SST road car ploughed through the crowd.
A statement from Martinsville Speedway has confirmed that several spectators were taken to hospital following the incident.
“Multiple individuals were struck by a vehicle, and the driver has been taken into police custody,” read a statement.
“Several people were treated on-site by emergency workers in the infield care centre while others have been transported to a nearby hospital.
“We will monitor the situation closely with local authorities, and work with them to provide updates.”
Two spectators have told Fox Sports of their harrowing experience.
“We were just standing there watching people get on the helicopter and what have you and there was a big cluster of people,” said Russell Tipton.
“Some guy … I don’t know what his deal was. I heard him gas it up and he just run right through the crowd, running over people. It was crazy.”
Tipton said he suffered only minor injuries when the mirror of the car struck him on the elbow.
“I was screaming and yelling at people to get out of the way, and he ran into the fence,” Tipton said.
“I heard it. Nobody ended up getting killed, thank God.
“It could have been a bad deal. … I saw him going through all the people. It was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen in my life.”
Joel Fulp, a witness to the accident, told Fox that the driver of the vehicle appeared to act intentionally.
“He drove right through us,” said Fulp.
“He stopped and looked at us as and looked me right in the eye and … he said, ‘F— this,’ and drove right down through the middle of the crowd.”
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