why are people surprised?

[~~Who,Me?~~]

Has anyone else seen the footage of that truck race in California? Am I the only one not surprised people died? I mean, I'm not AT ALL saying that they deserved to die, I'm just surprised there hasn't been a mass casualty like that before yesterday.


Here's a thought, maybe you don't want to stand right next to an un-barriered race course where trucks are going 100+ miles an hour. Just because tens of thousands of others were there too does not make it inherently safe.

I think it's horrible that spectators attacked the driver and threw rocks at him when he got out. I'm sure he'll feel horrible about this the rest of his life, it was an accident.

[beth119]

I agree with you!! My first thought was how tragic...but not shocked.

And why is this legal to begin with????

[~~Who,Me?~~]

I know, I mean imagine it.........going and standing on the side of the interstate. Then some vehicle comes along and takes me out. While it would be tragic, would anyone be surprised? No. That's why you don't go and stand on the side of the interstates.

It's legal because you know, our country, we like to overlegislate everything, remember? We don't need a law legislating who can watch a truck race. Too many laws, people can make decisions for themselves.......oh wait.

I'd bet my last coupon that several of the families already have attorneys lined up for lawsuits.

[BringontheWonder]

I agree. I said to dh, "What did they think was going to happen?"

[jen276here]

Actually there has been mass casualties before - and what seems crazier is some drivers have been prosecuted and sent to prison for the deaths…. I guess if they proved the driver was responsible for the deaths directly (short of just being the driver - ie knowingly did something wrong) I could understand, but if folks are standing 10ft from the track I think it is their own fault for not taking responsibility for their own safety - I mean the nature of a car/truck traveling at high rates of speed, doing stunts, and/or on unusual road surfaces makes the situation inherently dangerous - the spectators should have known better….

[kval07]

Just another example of people who shouldn't breed. Shame on those people who weren't smart enough to at least leave their kids at home.

[Smee]

Herd mentality, I guess-- lots of other people are doing it and therefore it must be ok. I don't get that, either. When large groups of people gather, common sense is often thrown out the window. I agree that it was a tragic accident, but I'm not among those surprised.

[~~Who,Me?~~]

Hundreds of thrill-seeking fans watched in horror Saturday night as one racer took a jump at high speed, hit his brakes on landing and rolled his truck sideways into spectators, sending bodies flying on a section of track that had no guardrails or anything else to keep the crowd back.

Bold mine. But I mean, who does this? Who thinks it's fun to stand that close?

Zubieta said state vehicle codes don't apply because the race was a sanctioned event held with the approval of the federal Bureau of Land Management, which owns the land used for the race.

Fantastic! BLM involved, which means that the federal gov't and therefore our tax dollars, will be used to pay settlements. All because people weren't smart enough to not stand next to a truck moving 100 mph.

[CW&M Mom]

link people???? I have no TV.;.....I wanna know what happened....

[seedlady]

from my hometown paper:

Fear part of excitement at race where crash killed 8, including 2 local men Ventura County Star