Racetrack crash kills man, boy; authorities investigate cause

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An investigation is underway after two people were killed in a crash at the Marysville Raceway Park in Northern California on Saturday night.

The two, a 68-year-old man and a 14-year-old boy, were walking in the pits as a part of a driver’s pit crew when the winged sprint car crashed into them.

The California Highway Patrol and local authorites were investigating, Associated Press reported.

At the time of the crash, the cars were doing their warm-up laps, according to Fox 40.

Steven Blakesley, a race announcer who witnessed the crash, said the 14-year-old was the driver’s cousin. The 68-year-old was the owner of a few cars in the race.

The crowd went quiet after the accident.

“Silent. Eerily silent. There was a focused effort to try and resuscitate those two individuals,” Blakesley said about the scene as it unfolded.

The man died at the scene while the teen was taken to the hospital. He was pronounced dead.

The reason the car lost control wasn’t immediately clear but mechanical problems are being looked into.

“Our thoughts and deepest prayers go out to everyone. Out of respect we will not elaborate on details. We ask everyone to respect each other and the families,” the raceway said in a news release.

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-- Fox 40 and a Times Staff Writer