Paratroopers hurt in NASCAR pre-race show

ESPN.com ^ | Feb. 23, 2003 | ESPN.com

[jern]

Gusting winds put parachutists in peril SportsTicker

ROCKINGHAM, N.C. -- As many as four paratroopers from the United States military were injured when the pre-race show for Sunday's NASCAR Subway 400 went out of control because of high winds.

With five military personnel parachuting into the North Carolina Motor Speedway, high-wind gusts created a perilous situation in which at least two of the members suffered broken legs.

A gust of wind caught the parachute of one paratrooper, slamming him against the top of a NASCAR team transporter. He fell off the top of a 15-foot tall transporter and tumbled to the pavement. He was trapped between the fence that sections off the NASCAR garage area, making it difficult for medical personnel to tend to him.

Two more parachutists slammed against motor homes and other vehicles parked in the infield.

The most horrific sight was when the final paratrooper fell hard on the speedway pavement in full view of a packed grandstand on the frontstretch. His legs snapped similar to the ghastly injuries suffered by former Washington Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann in a 1985 game against the New York Giants.

The injured military personnel were taken to the FirstHealth of the Carolinas Infield Care Center and at least one was airlifted by helicopter ambulance.

Wind gusts of up to 50 miles an hour have been recorded Sunday in the Southeastern United States.

[Jewels1091]

With wind like that, why on earth were they allowed to do this?????

[NormsRevenge]

Exactly!

[Sacajaweau]

Why are our military involved with this to start with??

[leadpenny]

Someone screwed up. I'm sure the jump team didn't want to disappoint the crowd. Hope they'll all be ok.

[leadpenny]

The announcers were acting kind of quiet during pre-race ceremonies. I don't believe NASCAR/FOX showed any of it.

[Gary Boldwater]

At least they didn't parachute into a Great White concert.

[Severa]

Parts of NC and VA (including VA Beach, where I am now) are under a wind advisory until 4pm today. Where exactly is Rockingham in NC?

[leadpenny]

P.R. Same as the F-15E's that did the flyover.

[byteback]

Why are our military involved with this to start with??

NASCAR fans are prime recruiting material.

[Sunshine55]

Yer bad LOL!!!

[Dog Gone]

The last time I went skydiving I was blown into an oil pumpjack and was in a cast for 10 months.

Thanks for the flashback!

[Welsh Rabbit]

Probably as part of the recruitment effort. The Army has been sponsering one of the leading cars and advirtising alot during televised NASCAR events.

[battlegearboat]

Jack Russell cleared it.

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: With wind like that, why on earth were they allowed to do this?????

Damned good question! Didn't these guys retain anything from the basic course at Benning?

[AStack75]

This is why our military is involved with this.

NASCAR races are where you'll find some of the biggest supporters of the U.S. Military.

[AStack75]

Bad joke.

[Cogadh na Sith]

I'll bet they were Golden Knights jumping the ram-air square chutes--HALO. These guys have thousands of jumps apiece... It happens to the best. Jumping is inherently risky.

I once saw a guy get blown into the wall of the Bravo Co. chow hall off the 250ft tower at Benning. He wasn't hurt, so we all had a good laugh at his expense.

[Cogadh na Sith]

At least they didn't parachute into a Great White concert.

Having exited aircraft while in flight in the Army, I can tell you that that is a really funny line, and I'll wager that even the fellows injured would get a chuckle out of that...

Military parachuting is the only place where you can get killed by burning, projectile impact, drowning, blunt trauma, and falling all at the same time!

[sonofatpatcher2]

Re: Jumping is inherently risky.

True, but it is stupid to jump in the high winds reported. They should have known better, Golden Knights, Jedi or not.

I'm just an Old Corps Jarhead who did my five jumps at Benning just after the balloon went up in Vietnam, BUT I still have enough memory of the basic course and the sense to not jump in high winds of 20 MPH Plus!