[kcvl]

Officials confirmed that eight people died and 12 were injured in the Lucerne Valley area Saturday when the driver of an off-road vehicle plowed into a crowd.

Authorities believe the driver lost control of the vehicle during some type of race at a dry lake bed.

Fire dispatch supervisor Tim Franke said the accident was reported at 7:48 p.m. at Soggy Dry Lake Bed, a popular off-road spot. “It’s unknown what kind of event was going on out there,” he said.

Franke said at least four people were seriously injured and were taken by air ambulance to nearby trauma centers.

He said it was not yet clear how the accident occurred or whether the driver was among the injured or dead.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/08/8-dead-12-hurt-as-vehicle-plows-into-crowd-at-race-in-san-bernardino-county.html

[La Enchiladita]

CHP identified the driver of the truck as Brett M. Sloppy. He was not injured but had to run from the scene when the crowd became unruly and began throwing rocks at him. It was not clear why he lost control of the truck, but CHP confirmed that alcohol was not a factor on Sloppy's part. No charges were filed against him, and he was not arrested.