Lucerne Valley Crash Claims 8, Injures 17

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LUCERNE VALLEY (GaeaTimes.com)- There is no denying the fact that desert car racing is one of the most exciting sports and its fans will vouch that it is the only one which takes the breath away, but this time the sports near Lucerne Valley took a tragic turn. On Saturday night, eight people were killed and seventeen more injured when a racer at the California 200 east of Lucerne Valley lost control over his vehicle during a pick-up and landed into a crowd of spectators. The accident reportedly occurred at around 7:40 pm (0240 GMT Sunday) during the annual event that was held in Soggy Dry Lake Bed that is located near the city of Lucerne Valley, Mojave Desert.

The California Highway Patrol office has identified the driver of the car as Brett Sloppy, a 28-year-old welder who owns a motor sports company. The CHP spokesman maintained that Brett Sloppy lost control of his modified 2000 Ford Ranger while the car was heading with a speed of 45 to 50 miles per hour. He was not drunk and has not been charged in the tragic Lucerne Valley crash as per the spokesman.

The annual California 200 event near the Lucerne Valley plays host to a throng of young people who come to witness one of the most exciting Desert sports of the country. California Highway Patrol spokesman Joaquin Zubieta told to a reputed media source on Saturday night that out of the 17 injured, six were in serious condition. Tim Franke, the fire department supervisor said to media sources that four of the injured were in critical condition and flown by air ambulance to nearby trauma centers for medical attention. The officials have been able to identify seven persons out of the eight people who were killed in the accident.