Drag racer Sam Fenech dies, camera operator injured in crash at Willowbank Raceway near Brisbane – ABC News
Professional drag racer Mike Fenech has died in a crash at a racing meet in Ipswich, west of Brisbane.
Warning: The following article contains an image some people may find distressing.
Key points:
- Sam Fenech was taking part in the New Year Nitro event in Willowbank Track when his car left the track and crashed
- He was treated by medics at the scene but died from his injuries shortly afterwards
- A camera operator was taken to hospital with non-life-threatening accidental injuries
Mr Fenech’s car left the track from high speed and crashed into a camera tower at about 6. 45pm on Saturday during the particular New Year Nitro event at Willowbank Raceway.
He was attended to simply by medics in the raceway yet died a short time later.
A camera operator was also taken to Brisbane’s Princess Alexandra Hospital along with non-life-threatening accidents.
Willowbank Raceway confirmed Mister Fenech’s death in a statement on social media later on Saturday evening.
“It is with great sadness that Top Fuel Racing Australia announces that Sam Fenech, driver of the Fabietti Racing Doorslammer, has succumbed to injuries suffered inside a racing accident at Willowbank Raceway plus passed away this evening, ” the statement said.
“We send our love and support to the Fenech family and the whole team at Fabietti Racing. inch
Members of the drag racing community began posting tributes to Mr Fenech shortly after the incident, with many emphasising the particular closeness among the sport’s enthusiasts regardless of racing bracket or group.
“I am shocked and saddened by this. Sam was the great guy, and I will miss our chats with his workshop, ” one person wrote in the Australian Pull Racing History and Memorabilia Facebook group.
“Life is so bloody short, hug your family extra tight tonight, ” another person published.
A member of a camera operator’s group, Brett Ramsey, said that the particular crash has been one associated with the worst accidents he’d seen in over 50 years of motorsport coverage.
“I’m always very reluctant to have crew down on that end from the strip, ” he wrote.
“If something goes wrong it goes wrong big, plus this had been huge. inches
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Saturday’s New 12 months Nitro event at Willowpark, which has been a round of both the Australian Top Fuel Championship and Top Doorslammer Australia, was discontinued after the crash.
Workplace Health plus Safety is conducting an investigation into the incident along with the assistance of the particular Queensland Police Service’s Forensic Crash Unit.
Police asked the public in order to avoid the area around Champions Way upon Saturday evening, and to be patient with likely traffic disruption.
Mister Fenech, who had travelled towards the occasion from Brand new South Wales, is survived simply by his wife Natalie and three children.