2 children killed, 8 people hurt in Texas 'no-prep' drag racing crash

John Bacon, USA TODAY
·2 min read

A drag racer in Texas lost control of his car and slammed into a crowd of spectators, killing two young boys and injuring eight people, authorities said.

A 6-year-old died at the scene and an 8-year-old was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, police in Kerrville said.

The car roared off a runway Saturday at "Airport Race Wars 2," an event at Kerrville-Kerr County Airport, 65 miles northwest of San Antonio.

Four people were transported to hospitals by air ambulances, including a 46-year-old woman in critical condition, police said. Two people were treated and released at the scene, and two children, a 4-year-old boy and a 3-month-old girl, were taken by ambulance to hospitals for "precautionary evaluations."

Police said the investigation was "active and ongoing."

Ross Dunagan, the founder of race organizer Flyin' Diesel Performance & Offroad, an auto repair shop adjacent to the airport, said in a Facebook video that there had been an "incident" on the race course. He said medical personnel were on the scene.

A 6-year-old died at the scene and an 8-year-old was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, said police in Kerrville, Texas.
A 6-year-old died at the scene and an 8-year-old was rushed to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead a short time later, said police in Kerrville, Texas.

"There has been an accident. We are taking care of it," Dunagan said. "The race is shut down, and we ask that you pray for everyone involved."

Fact check: Claim that Georgia city has authorized street racing is satire

The Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau had promoted the Airport Race Wars on its website.

"An action packed, family-friendly day of all out No Prep Drag Racing," the notice said. "Come see some of the fastest drag cars compete for over $8000 in total prizes. Food and drink vendors will be onsite."

No-prep drag racing is racing on a surface that has not been "prepped" with solutions that improve traction.

The racecourse was one-eighth of a mile long, and water-filled plastic barriers lined the course but did not extend past the finish line, local writer and witness Louis Amestoy said.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Texas no-prep drag racing accident: 2 children killed, 8 people hurt