Eight people were killed and 12 others injured when a modified Ford Ranger flew off a jump and rolled into a crowd of spectators at the start of the California 200 off-road race Saturday night. Witnesses said the truck landed hard and rolled into the crowd turning upside down. The driver was uninjured, but six were pronounced dead at the scene while two others died later in a hospital.
Ten emergency aircraft took most of the twelve injured to hospitals. Among the dead were Brian Wolfin, 27, and Anthony Sanchez, 23, both of Escondido who died at the scene. Aaron Farkas, 25, of Escondido died at a hospital. Also killed were Danica Frantzich, 20, of Las Vegas and Andrew Therrin, 22, of Riverside.
Witnesses testified the driver, Brett Sloppy of Marcos, took the jump at a place called the “rock pile” at a high rate of speed. He lost control of the vehicle upon landing and rolled into the crowd of hundreds. There were no barriers at the site.
One report said bodies went flying everywhere. Spectators lifted the vehicle off those pinned underneath and tried to help the injured until medics arrived.
One witness told reporters, “The danger is part of the excitement. You just don’t expect that it will happen to you.”
