Fatal Accident at Richard Petty Driving Experience
Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2015 8:08 pm
The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed Sunday a fatal incident at the Richard Petty Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Speedway near Orlando Florida. According to an FHP spokesperson the driver of a Lamborghini lost control around 3:30 ET Sunday and struck a guardrail on the right side. A 36-year-old male passenger from Davenport Florida died while the driver was transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The Richard Petty Driving Experience is a chain operated by Petty Holdings where fans can drive NASCAR style racecars or ride as passengers at speeds up to 165 mph. Four years ago, Petty Holdings introduced the Exotic Car Experience, where people can drive a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, a Porsche and other exotic cars. Sunday's accident was part of that division of the company.
The Walt Disney operation opened in 1997 at a 1-mile tri-oval speedway just south of the Magic Kingdom parking lot. It was built in 1995 as a venue for the Izod IndyCar Series and then became the exclusive home to Richard Petty Driving Experience year-round.
The attraction is named for Richard Petty, 77, an iconic figure in NASCAR history with seven NASCAR Cup titles, seven Daytona 500 victories and a record 200 victories, including 27 in one season.
The attraction recently announced that it is scheduled to close on June 28 to make way for transportation improvements. There is also a Richard Petty Driving Experience at Daytona International Speedway in Dayton Beach. The Experience can also be found at 16 other tracks around the country, most of them sanctioned by NASCAR.
In February of 2008 a 60-year-old tourist died after he crashed while driving a Richard Petty Driving Experience NASCAR vehicle at the Daytona International Speedway.
Track officials said Robert Boswell was driving around the speedway Sunday night when he somehow lost control of the racecar and crashed into a wall. Boswell was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center, where he was declared dead, officials said. An autopsy later determined that Boswell had a heart attack prior to the crash and was not killed by crash.
Late Sunday a representative from the Exotic Car Experience released a statement via email:
"On behalf of everyone in the organization, it is with a very heavy heart that we extend our deepest sympathies to those involved in today's tragic accident in Orlando."
The Richard Petty Driving Experience is a chain operated by Petty Holdings where fans can drive NASCAR style racecars or ride as passengers at speeds up to 165 mph. Four years ago, Petty Holdings introduced the Exotic Car Experience, where people can drive a Ferrari, a Lamborghini, a Porsche and other exotic cars. Sunday's accident was part of that division of the company.
The Walt Disney operation opened in 1997 at a 1-mile tri-oval speedway just south of the Magic Kingdom parking lot. It was built in 1995 as a venue for the Izod IndyCar Series and then became the exclusive home to Richard Petty Driving Experience year-round.
The attraction is named for Richard Petty, 77, an iconic figure in NASCAR history with seven NASCAR Cup titles, seven Daytona 500 victories and a record 200 victories, including 27 in one season.
The attraction recently announced that it is scheduled to close on June 28 to make way for transportation improvements. There is also a Richard Petty Driving Experience at Daytona International Speedway in Dayton Beach. The Experience can also be found at 16 other tracks around the country, most of them sanctioned by NASCAR.
In February of 2008 a 60-year-old tourist died after he crashed while driving a Richard Petty Driving Experience NASCAR vehicle at the Daytona International Speedway.
Track officials said Robert Boswell was driving around the speedway Sunday night when he somehow lost control of the racecar and crashed into a wall. Boswell was transported to Halifax Health Medical Center, where he was declared dead, officials said. An autopsy later determined that Boswell had a heart attack prior to the crash and was not killed by crash.
Late Sunday a representative from the Exotic Car Experience released a statement via email:
"On behalf of everyone in the organization, it is with a very heavy heart that we extend our deepest sympathies to those involved in today's tragic accident in Orlando."