KERRVILLE, Texas — Two children were killed and eight other people were injured when a driver lost control during a Texas drag racing event on Saturday and crashed into a crowd of spectators, authorities said.
The spectators -- two boys, ages 6 and 8 -- were killed when a car competing in the event left the runway at about 3:20 p.m. CDT during the “Airport Race Wars 2″ event at the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport, KENS-TV reported. The car crashed into parked cars and hit several spectators who were watching the race, according to KSAT.
The 6-year-old died at the scene, The Kerrville Daily Times reported. The 8-year-old was pronounced dead at an area hospital, the newspaper reported.
Two of the injured victims, a 4-year-old boy and a 3-month-old girl, were taken to an area hospital as a precaution, the television station reported. Two other victims were treated at the scene, according to the Kerrville Police Department.
Two children are dead and several others are injured after a car participating in a drag race event lost control and hit other cars and spectators, according to Kerrville Police. https://t.co/BKUHqXebT7
— KSAT 12 (@ksatnews) October 24, 2021
A 46-year-old woman was in critical condition and a 26-year-old woman was in critical but non-life-threatening condition, KSAT reported. Both were taken to San Antonio hospitals. A 26-year-old man was flown to an Austin hospital and his condition was unknown.
The 34-year-old driver of the car was in stable condition at a San Antonio hospital, the television station reported.
Two other people were treated at the scene by first responders, according to KENS.
More than 3,500 people attended the event, Louis Amestoy, a freelance journalist who was at the scene, told The Associated Press. It is an annual race held on the tarmac of the airport, according to KABB.
Kerrville is about 60 miles northwest of San Antonio.
Brittany Lehmann, whose husband raced earlier in the day, said she was facing the other direction when she heard a crash, turned and saw black smoke and people running.
“They said ‘Get your children out of here,’” Lehmann told The Daily Times.
“Kerrville Police are conducting an investigation into the accident,” the department said in a news release. “This investigation is active and ongoing. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.”
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