Talladega Speedway Wreck Injures Seven Spectators

Seven spectators at the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama sustained non-life threatening injuries after a car being driven by Carl Edwards went airborne, hurling debris into the stands.

According to track medical director Bobby Lewis, two of the injured were flown by helicopter to nearby hospitals, one with an apparent broken jaw and lacerations on her face. Reports on the other were not available, but neither were believed to be seriously hurt. The wreck happened just as drivers were approaching the final lap of the Talladega 500 on Sunday. The car driven by Edwards reportedly clipped a another racer, causing Edwards’ car to spin out of control, careening into a safety fence. Edwards was not injured, however, his car was destroyed, as were sections of the safety fence. High speed wrecks are not uncommon in motor racing. Still, NASCAR spokesman Jim Hunter, who was seated near where the wreck occurred said he was thankful no-one was more seriously hurt, adding that he believed it was the first time the fence had ever been hit. One of the most storied racetracks in US auto racing history, the track at the Talladega Superspeedway measures 2.66 miles (4.28 km) in length, making it one of the longest and most steeply banked oval tracks in auto racing.