UPDATE: 12:10PM a local Pocono paper released the name of the man as Brian F. Zimmerman. He leaves behind his wife and three children.
A 41-year-old man was killed and another fan was in critical condition after multiple lightning strikes occurred after a NASCAR Sprint Cup race was cut short by thunderstorms Sunday at Pocono Raceway. In total ten people were stuck by lightning following a rain shortened event at Pocono Raceway.
According to various reports the fan was in the vicinity of (or leaning on) his vehicle in lot 3 after the track was evacuated.
Monroe county coroner Bob Allen said the victim was in cardiac arrest at the scene and efforts to revive him by emergency responders and doctors at the track were unsuccessful. Allen released the man’s age but declined to identify him, saying he had just informed the victim’s wife and she had yet to tell his children or his parents. An autopsy will be performed, Allen said.
The race was delayed by 90 minutes due to rain and was shortened due to rain. Jeff Gordon was declared the winner. It was the 86th career win for Gordon and first of 2012.
my sympathies go out to the family of the nascar fan who lost his life after the pocono race sunday…and also, to the others who were injured as well by lightning and the storm…prayers of healing. it appears many stay and wait in the stands in hopes of seeing the end of a race even when storms may be looming…perhaps if there was an announcement they didnt hear it with all the noise between track noise etc…never having gone to a race before but it being on my..one of these days list…i know it would be hard for me to leave after traveling and finally getting my chance to see a race..my driver… i hope people wont criticize this was an accident a horrible one…and i do hope i am not disappointed with the nascar community that will back these families and be generous what a true fan they just lost.
What a sad day for Nascar Nation. Our thought and prayers go out to all the families effected by this – so sad !
Nice jester……..would be to announce and pay tribute to this man at next race. Sympathies to the family.
Rudy, what I think would be a great jester would be for some race teams to establish some college funds for his three children.
It’s always sad when something like this happens at any sporting event or any place else.
By the way, the word is genture, not jester.
Sorry Ginny Lee “genture”