NASCAR Crash: Badly Hurt Fans Upgraded to Stable

Driver Michael Annett released from hospital
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 24, 2013 2:27 PM CST
NASCAR Crash: Badly Hurt Fans Upgraded to Stable
Injured spectators are treated after a crash at the conclusion of the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, Feb. 23, 2013, at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla.   (AP Photo/David Graham)

Good news from Daytona Beach, Fla.: The two worst-hurt fans in yesterday's horrific NASCAR crash have been upgraded from critical to stable condition, the Charlotte Observer reports. One of them is an adult and the other a child; the child's injuries were initially considered life-threatening. In all, 28 fans have received medical treatment, 14 in hospitals and 14 in a care center at the Daytona International Speedway. At least six have suffered traumatic injuries.

The only hospitalized driver, Michael Annett, was released today, and three other drivers were treated and released at the Speedway. NASCAR has promised to investigate the accident, which occurred as leader Regan Smith tried to block a pass from Brad Keselowski and smashed into the wall. "It’s certainly something we’ll look at," says a NASCAR official. "If we can improve upon it, we’ll certainly put that in play as soon as we can." NASCAR has already ordered that car parts be fastened to frames so they're less likely to fly off. At least 46 race fans died at US tracks between 1990 and 2010. (More NASCAR stories.)

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