Rev Bill

I found out last night that Paul, a friend of mine who is a race track photographer, is dealing with a tragedy he witnessed.

Here’s how he describes it:

Saturday night, opening night at one of tracks I work for. Weather is good, excitement is high. Everyone is in a good mood and happy to be back racing.

Hot laps, heat races, and the first 2 features go off without a problem. Final feature of the night. Lap 13. A car’s throttle sticks wide open as he is going down the back straight. Before he can hit the kill switch he is cresting the turn 3 banking and is airborne. Over the guardrail and hard into the pit catch fence, squarely impacting one of the steel fence posts, bending it almost in half while ripping it and 3 feet of concrete out of the ground.

About 50 crew members were lined up along the pit fence, watching the progress of their various cars. 2 team mates are leaning against a fence post, watching their car exit turn 4 and start down the front stretch. They never saw the car coming that hit the very fence post they were leaning on. One is in serious condition, the other…

As track photographer I had to document the whole scene (except obviously not the medics trying to do their job). There are scenes burned into my mind that I wonder if I’ll ever stop seeing. This is the first time in all my years of shooting races that I’ve had to deal with real tragedy at a track I was working and I guess I’m having a hard time dealing with it.

Please join me in keeping Paul and his wife Debbie, who was with him and helped comfort many of the victims, families, and spectators, in your prayers.

Lord, You are with us in life and in death. Help those who witness horrific events to know Your presence and comfort. Bless Paul, Debbie, and all who witnessed and were directly involved in this horrific accident with Your love and peace. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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