A general view of the speedway during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Goody’s Fast Relief 500 at Martinsville Speedway on October 30, 2016 in Martinsville, Virginia. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images)
MARTINSVILLE, Va. — State police said 22 people were injured after being struck by a convertible in the Martinsville Speedway parking lot following a race Sunday evening.
Virginia State Police and local law enforcement responded to a report of a multi-injury incident involving pedestrians at 5:38 p.m.
Officials said the handicapped parking area outside Turn 2 was congested with vehicles and pedestrians when a black convertible tried to pass a Jeep SUV. That convertible hit the Jeep before plowing into the pedestrians.
Officials said 22 people, ranging in ages from 13 to 65, were injured. Nine people were transported to nearby hospitals with injuries described as not life-threatening. Thirteen others were treated for minor injuries at the scene.
One of the pedestrians hit told FOXSports.com that the driver appeared to purposely run into the crowd.
Russell Tipton, one of the pedestrians hit, told FOXSports.com he was outside track near a helipad when the driver appeared to purposely run into the crowd.
“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 told FOXSports.com. “I was screaming and yelling at people to get out of the way, and he run into the fence. I heard it. Nobody ended up getting killed, thank God.”
Tipton said the melee was the “craziest thing” he ever witnessed.
Charges are pending against the driver of the convertible, who was being interviewed by troopers.
Officials said they do not believe alcohol to be a factor in the crash.
State police officials said the investigation into the incident is ongoing
