Driver in California 200 crash says he is 'devastated'

The driver of a desert off-road vehicle that slammed into a crowd of spectators Saturday night, killing eight people, posted a message on Facebook late Sunday expressing his sadness over the tragedy.

Brett M. Sloppy, 28, was driving his modified 2000 Ford Ranger through the Mojave Desert at approximately 45 to 50 miles per hour when he lost control and collided with the spectators, authorities said.

“Soo incredibly lost and devistated my thoughts and prayers go out to all the familys and friends involved," the San Marcos resident said on his Facebook page late Sunday. "Thank you too all my friends for sticking with me even thru these tragic times I love you all.”

Also on Sunday, authorities said it appeared Sloppy's vehicle was equipped with a video camera. Investigators hope to review footage that may have been taken in the moments before and during the crash, California Highway Patrol Officer Joaquin Zubieta said.

On his MySpace page, Sloppy describes himself as single and working as a fabricater in San Marcos. The site includes numerous photographs of work he’s done on off-road vehicles:

“I CAN BUILD JUST ABOUT ANYTHING FOR A OFF ROAD VEHICLE...A FEW OF THE THINGS I BUILD HERE AT MISERY MOTORSPORTS ARE ROLL CAGE'S, BED CAGE'S, PRERUNNER BUMPER'S FRONT AND REAR LIGHT RACK'S, WELDING TABLE'S, BRACKETS FOR 4 LINK, 4 LINK KITS, I BEAMS AND RADIUS ARMS.”

-- Carla Rivera and David Zahniser

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Driver in California 200 crash says he is 'devastated'

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Spectators killed in California 200 race 'didn't have much of a chance,' CHP says

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Comments

[patrick]

The word is "fabricator". if you want to write professionally the at least use spell check.

[Vincent]

A stupid sport.

[ScottA]

Even if you do not know how to spell words correctly you can still look like you know by simply using the spell checking tool of any word processing software. If you do not use it then you let your ignorance shine through and show that you do not respect readers enough to check your spelling.

[Billy BuBB]

maybe we ought to make this sort of a lottery thing. You know, line cons up near the track, let them tank a 24, and the ones that make it back won't have to participate in another one for a year or two. Easy, random, makes space in jail for deserving newly convicted ones, and the ones gone are now named on some plaque in south Dumont.
Of course, if the cons are on best behavior for the term, they won't be 'chosen' for the lottery. CON AIR of another sort. Dig?

[jack dawson]

"100..acres"

100 acres ?

who said you shaven headed , tatooed , gaz guzzling , noise creating, drunken, rush limbaugh-loving, off road nazis could have ANY of my desert ?

[Jim Chandler]

To William: You are obviously ignorant of the requirements for murder. PREMEDITATION is the biggest. Do you think that this driver went out with the intent to kill people? If you do you're dumber than your post would indicate. As to the person who said that this incident was a bad indication of his fabricating abilities, where did you get the idea that this was caused by something he built? There is no current evidence indicating that. Update his "Facebook" page? Why not. It's the fastest way going to get what you want to say out to the most people. Young people these days can't go ten minutes without a cellphone call, text, or Tweet. Think before you post people. That way you may not look so ignorant.

[Minnesota Mike]

I can't believe some of these comments were accepted for publication. What's the point in moderating them prior to posting them if you're going to allow people to show off such hateful comments about the driver? Unacceptable. You might as well rescind MY permission to comment if you won't stop some of the other garbage comments I'm reading here.

[Whatisthe science]

I feel for the friends and families of those who died. I also feel for the driver. This was not his fault. Crashes coming off jumps in off road racing are common. It makes no sense that the spectators were crowding the landing area of a jump. This would be similar, but more dangerous than crowding the area at the bottom of a ski jump.

[bigstew]

Thats racing folks. If you are afraid you might get hurt, try a Raider-Charger game in Oakland.

[ou812]

For all you idiots that just have to bring politics into this tragedy, PISS OFF! It was an accident, the spectators can't follow simple rules for for their own safety and this is was you get, DEAD! It was the fault of the 8 darwin winners and not the driver.

[dgreen63]

why does everyone blame him or the spectators for it? you can't blame him for a rock being there in the dirt and him hitting it over a jump and you can't blame the spectators because the truck rolled very far from where he lost control.

[ou812]

Hey Nick, why is it a "dumb sport?" Just because idots can't follow the rules and keep their distance, in the process staying alive, doesn't make it a dumb sport. Hell, one of these 8 drunks might have killed someone on the way home.

[Ellie]

Thank you, Sloppy!! I mean, I am sorry you killed those people, especially that little kid whose parents weren't thinking about his safety. On the other hand there will probably never be another California 200 after all the law suits are settled. It cost the folks $95 for a permit to put this event on. That means lots of profit that will now disappear into lawyers pockets. That is the end of that mess of an activity

[Danofive0]

This is just a sad deal. May God Bless everyone here!

[ruben]

Hey Mike G, you are talking about his skills as a fabricator? He walked away from an off road roll over going almost 50 miles an hour. Id say he is a pretty good fabricator. As far as never driving again? I think that he should need some therapy cause i am sure he is going to have issues but for him to never drive again cause of a tragedy that he could not avoid is hardly a reason to never drive again. You run over a kid does that mean you are never going to drive again? Dont think so. Use your brains. They are getting cob webs from lack of use.

[H10]

First of all, Mike G. How Rude are you? This goes for the rest of you making jokes about the man who is going to have to live with this for the rest of his life. Did you take TWO Seconds to think of how this is affecting him? Did you take the time to put yourself in his shoes, to understand how hurt he must be? Did you think to imagine if it was you driving? your friend? your brother? or anyone close to you?
I would imagine that you didnt... Otherwise you wouldnt be saying those harsh things.

You people are so Ignorant. you listen to only what you want to believe. Yes, many lives were lost. Yes, it is terrible. I won't argue that. But to portray yourself as someone who has NO HEART for a man who made a mistake? you should be so ashamed of yourself.
Also to the newspaper.. To judge a man and make an article on his posts on a personal website. and then the rest of you to act as if his statements, which were Private things to his friends, via his personal website, to act as if it is not a sincere statement? You make me sick.

I have grown up around racing, it has been a major portion of my life since I could ride a motorcycle, since my feet could reach a pedal in one of these "modified cars". It is an addiction. It is a risk. As for you people, who are probably completely uneducated in the sport at all--Do you not understand this was NOT sloppys fault? ANYONE of these cars or trucks could have gone out of control. It is not a thing to point a finger at the driver. It is a fact of racing, and if you can't realize that, your narrowminded opinion should not even be heard. Bystanders should also realize if they are going to be out watching these events that they NEED to know where the danger zones are. I can tell you that is one of the ROUGHEST Corners in this race, which is run yearly. If you go out there uneducated about the course, etc., you are taking a bigger risk than what you realize.

The FACTS would let you know that EVERY RACE is approved by the Bureau of land management. There is TONS of planning. And safety precautions given. I find it so funny that these people are so argumentative about how it is Killing their deserts. We use trails that have already been SET IN. For years. Most of the courses are run over and over and over again. So that we, as racers, do not kill what is living: plants or animals. I would argue that racers are probably the number one fans of our precious deserts. Where else would we do what we love?

I find it so rediculous to read these posts, and frankly have had enough of it.

QUIT making digs at a man who will be upset about yesterday for the rest of his life. STOP making statements acting like you know Everything. The fact that you don't have any idea of what the hell you are talking about makes you look worse than you already do. Get some FACTS Before you begin to criticize the sport, the driver, or the accident. I can guarantee you have no idea what you think you know. You are probably sitting there watching these hyped up media posts, getting a FALSE story. To find a real story, do a bit more research.
I hope you can find it in your heart to delete these hurtful comments from this website. And hopefully you will NEVER have to go through what this man is going to deal with. Although you deserve it more than he does.
Thank you.

[Bungle]

If I was going to apologize for killing someone, I'd probably check my spelling before sending it out. What a thoughtless post.

[jd]

Its a sad day when something like this happens,but we all know if you attend any type of racing event there is a chance that something very bad could happen to you or someone near you.,standing anywhere near any dirt,mx,nascar, or any other type of race track. It could be very very dangerous. SO REMBER WHEN YOU GO TO ANY TYPE OF RACING EVENT IT IS DANGEROUS

[Sunny]

My condolences to the famalies involved in this tragedy.May god give them strength to go through this horrible experience.Now for people who are here to play blame game can we please lay it off lets only post condolence comments and let the CHP do their job.

[todd]

To all.... this is a horrible ACCIDENT. Racing is a wonderful sport at any level and an d involves risk. Spectatote know that when they go to watch. in Desert racing especially. It is not the Drivers fault. he was there to complete. Spectators need to remember to stay back. I feel so sorry for all that have died do the Accident as they were there on their own will watching what i am sure they loved. God Bless All involeved.

[Cindy]

Video with my thoughts about the driver

[FN Cee]

It is a race ... it's dangerous ... not a drive in the park ... the spectators accept the risk of being hit wherever they plant themselves along a race course ... any race course ... too bad, also not necessary ... the folks oughta stay outa the way, period. Next step ... federal government will ban off-road-racing by passing a 2,000 page piece of automotive legislation which no one who votes for will read or understand ... stupid people do stupid things and get hurt ... pretty simple ... In Baja the locals set deadly traps for the racers ... and we still show up to race there ... now there's another good reason not to go to Mexico and spend loads of money...See you at Mike''s Sky Ranch ... or Ojos Negros ...

[KENNETH JARRETT]

I FEEL SORRY FOR THE IDIOTS THAT THREW ROCKS AT THE DRIVER, ARE YOU FOR REAL?WHAT COUNTRY ARE YOU FROM?ARE WOMEN NEXT?I BELIEVE JESUS SAID,THOSE OF YOU WITHOUT SIN,CAST THE FIRST STONE.THE MISTAKE WAS NOT THE DRIVERS. IT WAS OBSERVERS NOT OBSERVING.I,LL PRAY FOR EVERYONE...GODSPEED

[Dave]

What a tragedy! But now that this has happened maybe someone, RACE PROMOTERS, will take the necessary time to rope off these dangerous areas! I say this with the UTMOST RESPECT AND MY SINCEREST CONDOLENCES TO THOSE THAT LOST LOVED ONES but I have been to these types of races before and I could not believe what I saw. People drunk off their butts standing so close to the race track that it is a wonder more people have not been killed! The majority of folks choose to stand close to the areas where an accident is most likely to happen. Off road racers going faster than they can, drunkard people all over the place chanting for a wreck, and all common sense thrown out the window.... recipe for disaster!!!! YES, I AM ANGRY AT THIS NEEDLESS LOSS OF LIFE.

THE BURDEN FOR THIS EXTREMELY SORROWFUL EVENT LIES DIRECTLY ON THE SHOULDERS OF THOSE THAT PROMOTE THESE EVENTS. THEY SET UP RULES ON THE COURSE FOR SPECTATORS BUT DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO ENFORCE THEM. WAKE UP... THERE IS ALWAYS ALCOHOL INVOLVED AT THESE EVENTS AND EVERYONE KNOWS WE ALL DO THINGS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW COMMON SENSE. YOU RACE PROMOTERS KNOW THIS AND DO NOTHING ABOUT IT... THIS IS YOUR FAULT, NOT THE DRIVERS! YOU ARE THE ONES IN CHARGE!

[Macen]

It takes over 200 ft for a normal sedan to slow from 60mph to stop in ideal conditions (with average reaction time and good breaks), which people should know if they've taken a written test at a RMV. So a much heavier, souped up truck, on dirt and gravel...hmm...common sense anyone?