Stock car’s ‘brakes failed’
A stock car’s brakes failed before it ploughed into a photographer at a race meeting, critically injuring him, according to a track official.
John Sprague was taking photos at the NZ SuperStocks event at Waikaraka Park Speedway in central Auckland on Saturday night when he was hit shortly before 8pm.
He was taken to Auckland City Hospital in a critical condition.
Waikaraka Park Speedway president Frank Irvine said on Sunday that Sprague was standing ‘‘in the correct place’’ for photographers when he was hit.
‘‘Evidently some mechanical failure happened with the car,’’ Irvine said.
‘‘I believe the car had a mechanical failure; the gearbox blew up and something got under the brake pedals.
‘‘The gearbox blew up, so it disintegrated, and parts of the gearbox went under the brake pedals, so the brakes weren’t operative.’’ Irvine said the ‘‘freak accident’’ was now being investigated by police and Speedway New Zealand.
Speedway New Zealand president David Jones said that the governing body took health and safety seriously.
‘‘All incidents reported to us are fully investigated to ensure, in the context of our sport, all reasonably practical steps are taken to minimize risks to both competitors, infield staff and the public,’’ Jones said.
He was unable to provide further comment while an investigation was under way.
‘‘Evidently some mechanical failure happened with the car.’’
Frank Irvine