Aug. 5, 2012
By Reid Spencer
NASCAR Wire Service
LONG POND, Pa.--
Lightning from the storm that ended Sunday's Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono
Raceway claimed the life of one fan and injured nine others, officials
from the track confirmed Sunday
evening.
At least two separate
strikes accounted for the casualties -- one in the parking lot near the
main grandstand and another at Gate 3, off Long Pond Road, at the race
track south of Interstate
80.
Two fans were injured
critically by the strikes. One, who was being transported to Pocono
Medical Center, has died, according to track president Brandon Igdalsky.
The other, who was transported
to Lehigh Valley Hospital Center in Allentown, Pa., remains in critical
condition.
"One of the injured has
been declared deceased at Pocono Medical Center this evening by Dr.
Peter Favini, the medical director of E.R. down there," Igdalsky said.
Three others were taken
to area hospitals with injuries described as minor to moderate. Five
other fans were treated at the scene and were subsequently transported
to medical facilities for
further evaluation.
"Our heartfelt thoughts
and best wishes to those that were injured and our condolences to loved
ones of the person that was deceased," said Pocono Raceway vice
president Bob Pleban.
"We are deeply saddened
that a fan has died and others were injured by lightning strikes
following today's race at Pocono," said NASCAR spokesman David Higdon.
"Our thoughts are with them as
well as all those affected by this unfortunate accident."
Identification of the victims has been withheld pending notification of families.
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