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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Four killed in US drag car crash | Four killed in US drag car crash |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Four people have died and 15 have been injured after a drag racing car spun out of control and hit a crowd of spectators in Tennessee, officials say. | |
| The accident happened at the Cars for Kids charity event in Selmer, 130 km (80 miles) east of Memphis. | The accident happened at the Cars for Kids charity event in Selmer, 130 km (80 miles) east of Memphis. |
| A witness, Scott Henley, told the Associated Press that, after burning off its tyres, the vehicle swerved into a pole and then spun into the crowd. | A witness, Scott Henley, told the Associated Press that, after burning off its tyres, the vehicle swerved into a pole and then spun into the crowd. |
| "Bodies were flying into the air," Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks said. | "Bodies were flying into the air," Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks said. |
| Those killed were all adults, the authorities reported. At least eight of the injured have been taken to hospital in the surrounding area. | Those killed were all adults, the authorities reported. At least eight of the injured have been taken to hospital in the surrounding area. |
| The race team is in shock and deeply saddened by this unexpected event AMS Pro Modified Series | The race team is in shock and deeply saddened by this unexpected event AMS Pro Modified Series |
| The festival, which was expected to be attended by up to 60,000 people over the weekend, was shut down following the accident. | The festival, which was expected to be attended by up to 60,000 people over the weekend, was shut down following the accident. |
| The AMS Pro Modified Series, which sanctions drag races, issued a statement saying the driver of the car had been a veteran of more than 20-years drag racing and that he had been taken to hospital after the accident. | The AMS Pro Modified Series, which sanctions drag races, issued a statement saying the driver of the car had been a veteran of more than 20-years drag racing and that he had been taken to hospital after the accident. |
| The series said the driver had been performing an "exhibition burnout" - spinning the tires to make them heat up and smoke - when road conditions caused the car to lose control. | The series said the driver had been performing an "exhibition burnout" - spinning the tires to make them heat up and smoke - when road conditions caused the car to lose control. |
| "The race team is in shock and deeply saddened by this unexpected event," it added. | "The race team is in shock and deeply saddened by this unexpected event," it added. |
| "Their hearts and prayers are with the injured people and their families." | "Their hearts and prayers are with the injured people and their families." |
| The Cars for Kids charity raises money for children with disabilities through a series of national car races and pageants. | The Cars for Kids charity raises money for children with disabilities through a series of national car races and pageants. |