Sad story in today's paper. Be careful at your track events.
05-18-2005, 11:06 AM
#1
Sad story in today's paper. Be careful at your track events.
I feel just awful for the victim and the driver and their families.
_________________________________________________________________
Posted on Tue, May. 17, 2005
Race-car accident kills flag man
Driver at Nelson Ledges Road Course loses control, hitting Cleveland man
By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
RAVENNA - A Cleveland man was struck and killed by a race car Sunday during a driving school at Nelson Ledges Road Course.
The victim, Glenn C. Miller, 56, was working as a flag man, warning drivers of course conditions, when he was hit, authorities said.
Thomas Decker, chief investigator for the Portage County Coroner's Office, said Miller died of injuries at the scene.
The driver, Kurt T. Niemeyer, 46, of Cincinnati was driving a red 1996 Acura on the back straightaway when he dropped off the left side of the track field, tried to steer back onto the course and spun sideways into the victim, according to a crash report by the Portage County Sheriff's Office.
The driver's side of the Acura struck the victim, the report stated.
Niemeyer said in a telephone interview Monday that it was ``a tragic accident.'' He declined to comment further, except to say he was a ``participant'' in the driving school.
Sheriff Duane W. Kaley also said the crash appeared to be accidental. When the investigation is completed, he said, the case will be presented to the county prosecutor for consideration of charges.
An ambulance crew from Warren reported the crash at 11:06 a.m. Sunday, about an hour after it occurred, Kaley said. The two-mile course is about six miles east of Hiram on state Route 305 in Nelson Township.
Nelson Ledges General Manager Kerrie Lane declined to comment.
The driving school was sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America, national club spokesman Eric Prill said. He said Miller was a volunteer member of the Lake Erie flagging and communications crew and had been a club member since 1991.
Prill said the driving school was the first step toward gaining a competitive racing license in Sports Car Club-sanctioned events. Participants take several hours of classroom training before driving a car on the race course -- first with an instructor, and then alone.
Niemeyer, the driver, was not with an instructor when he lost control of the Acura, Prill said.
Prill said it was the first Sports Car Club fatality since April 2004, when a driver was killed at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan.
He said Miller is survived by his wife, Carol, and three children.
_________________________________________________________________
Posted on Tue, May. 17, 2005
Race-car accident kills flag man
Driver at Nelson Ledges Road Course loses control, hitting Cleveland man
By Ed Meyer
Beacon Journal staff writer
RAVENNA - A Cleveland man was struck and killed by a race car Sunday during a driving school at Nelson Ledges Road Course.
The victim, Glenn C. Miller, 56, was working as a flag man, warning drivers of course conditions, when he was hit, authorities said.
Thomas Decker, chief investigator for the Portage County Coroner's Office, said Miller died of injuries at the scene.
The driver, Kurt T. Niemeyer, 46, of Cincinnati was driving a red 1996 Acura on the back straightaway when he dropped off the left side of the track field, tried to steer back onto the course and spun sideways into the victim, according to a crash report by the Portage County Sheriff's Office.
The driver's side of the Acura struck the victim, the report stated.
Niemeyer said in a telephone interview Monday that it was ``a tragic accident.'' He declined to comment further, except to say he was a ``participant'' in the driving school.
Sheriff Duane W. Kaley also said the crash appeared to be accidental. When the investigation is completed, he said, the case will be presented to the county prosecutor for consideration of charges.
An ambulance crew from Warren reported the crash at 11:06 a.m. Sunday, about an hour after it occurred, Kaley said. The two-mile course is about six miles east of Hiram on state Route 305 in Nelson Township.
Nelson Ledges General Manager Kerrie Lane declined to comment.
The driving school was sanctioned by the Sports Car Club of America, national club spokesman Eric Prill said. He said Miller was a volunteer member of the Lake Erie flagging and communications crew and had been a club member since 1991.
Prill said the driving school was the first step toward gaining a competitive racing license in Sports Car Club-sanctioned events. Participants take several hours of classroom training before driving a car on the race course -- first with an instructor, and then alone.
Niemeyer, the driver, was not with an instructor when he lost control of the Acura, Prill said.
Prill said it was the first Sports Car Club fatality since April 2004, when a driver was killed at Heartland Park in Topeka, Kan.
He said Miller is survived by his wife, Carol, and three children.
