Driver’s Mother Is Killed

Two cars jumped a guard rail and hit a section of bleachers at a race track, killing a driver’s wheelchair-bound mother and injuring at least 11 spectators.

Authorities said Sunday that four people were taken by helicopter from Lorain County Speedway to MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland.

Virginia Whyel, 65, was pronounced dead early Sunday, a nursing supervisor said. Her hometown was not available, the county sheriff’s department said.

The accident occurred at about 11:30 p.m. EDT Saturday in a NASCAR Racing Series Late Models event.

“It happened so quick,” Kathy Williams of Medina said Sunday from her bed at MetroHealth, where she was in satisfactory condition despite a broken leg. “I didn’t know what happened until I was pinned under the car. I was looking the other way when it hit.

“Everybody was scared. They were trying to get to me and get me out from under the fender.”

Lorain County Sheriff’s Capt. Jim Drozdowski said two drivers collided just before the accident.

“Two of the cars accelerated and bumped and the drivers lost control, went over a guard rail, took out a fence and hit a set of stands,” Drozdowski said.

The two drivers were treated at the scene.

Besides Williams, two other spectators were hospitalized in stable condition at MetroHealth. Ivan Zirkle, 69, of Avon suffered a back injury and 19-year-old Jacob Webster, whose hometown was not available, had a leg injury.

Kimberly Jones, 14, of Grafton was in fair condition with leg injuries. Seven other spectators were treated and released at local hospitals.

Rich Rankin, operations manager at the track about 40 miles west of Cleveland, said a rainstorm about two hours before the accident was not a factor because the track was dry.

Seventeen drivers were racing in the event when the accident occurred.