07/12/2010 // WPB, FL, USA // Nicole Howley // Nicole Howley
Seattle, WA—Failed parachutes caused a drag racer to slam into protective netting at the end of the raceway during the Northwest Nationals, killing the driver. The driver was competing in the Top Alcohol dragster class in the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series and was in the semifinal heat when the collision occurred, as reported by the Associated Press.
The driver, 60-year-old Mark Niver of Phoenix, died before rescue teams could arrive at the Pacific Raceways, where the accident took place. Rescue teams were called to the track at around 3:40 p.m.
Officials say the parachutes on Niver’s dragster ripped off after they were deployed, hindering Niver from stopping his dragster before it slammed into the protective netting.
The National Hot Road Association is investigating the accident and why the parachutes ripped off.
This is the third fatality at a NHRA event this year. Niver’s death marked the second fatality this month at an NHRA event.
In June, Neal Parker, 58, of Millville, N.J., died from head injuries as a result of a crash in his alcohol-fueled funny car at the qualifiers of the NHRA SuperNationals. A spectator was killed in February after being hit by an airborne tire that was thrown during a dragster crash.
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