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NEW LEBANON, N.Y. (NEWS10) – Friends and families were out for the ‘Eve of Destruction’ event at the Speedway Tuesday night, but as it went on, the race took a turn for the worse.
Police say this isn’t the first fatal accident they’ve seen at Lebanon Valley.
At around 10 p.m. Tuesday, 43-year old Shawn Rivers was racing his Winnebago motorhome on the speedway track when a second vehicle driven by 43-year old, Frank Sorrento intentionally tried to disable Rivers, as part of the rules on the track.
Sorrento hit Rivers, causing his vehicle to rollover and collapse.
When EMS crews arrived, they had to extricate Rivers since he was trapped inside.
Rivers was then brought to Albany Medical Center where he later died from massive head trauma, despite wearing a helmet.
State Police with Troop K say the race was made for vehicles to perform aggressive race stunts with no protection inside the vehicles. They also could not comment on the requirements needed in order for drivers to be entered in his race, but did say there would be no criminal liability.
“I don’t know what type of requirements is needed for this type of race, but our investigation has thus far, like I said, revealed this vehicle had been modified and there is no evidence that there was any type of roll cage or any type of internal structure,” said Captain Michael Jankowiak, Troop K Zone 1 Commander.
The incident still remains under investigation and there is no word yet on whether the event will be cancelled for the future due to safety.
Police say this isn’t the first fatal accident they’ve seen at Lebanon Valley.
At around 10 p.m. Tuesday, 43-year old Shawn Rivers was racing his Winnebago motorhome on the speedway track when a second vehicle driven by 43-year old, Frank Sorrento intentionally tried to disable Rivers, as part of the rules on the track.
Sorrento hit Rivers, causing his vehicle to rollover and collapse.
When EMS crews arrived, they had to extricate Rivers since he was trapped inside.
Rivers was then brought to Albany Medical Center where he later died from massive head trauma, despite wearing a helmet.
State Police with Troop K say the race was made for vehicles to perform aggressive race stunts with no protection inside the vehicles. They also could not comment on the requirements needed in order for drivers to be entered in his race, but did say there would be no criminal liability.
“I don’t know what type of requirements is needed for this type of race, but our investigation has thus far, like I said, revealed this vehicle had been modified and there is no evidence that there was any type of roll cage or any type of internal structure,” said Captain Michael Jankowiak, Troop K Zone 1 Commander.
The incident still remains under investigation and there is no word yet on whether the event will be cancelled for the future due to safety.
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