BLM suspends permits of promoter in fatal CA race
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal agency suspended future event permits today for the promoter of last weekend’s off-road race in the California desert where eight spectators were killed by a racing truck.
The Bureau of Land Management, which manages the territory where the crash occurred, said the suspension of permits for Mojave Desert Racing will remain in effect while an investigation of the accident is under way.
A call and e-mail message to Susan and James Williams, the couple who operate MDR Productions from their South El Monte home, were not immediately returned.
The spectators were killed Saturday during a 200-mile race on a 50-mile circuit in the Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles. Ten other spectators were injured.
Video of the accident showed spectators crowding the edge of the narrow dirt course as trucks sped by. One truck went out of control and slammed into the crowd and overturned.
Documents provided by the BLM, which issued permits for the California 200 race, show that spectator safety was the responsibility of MDR. However, the spectators were within feet of the speeding vehicles, not 100 feet away as MDR’s own rules require.
The BLM also said it was reviewing future racing events in the California desert on a case by case basis to ensure all safety requirements can be met before authorizing them to go forward.