According to California Highway Patrol spokesman, Mario Lopez, the driver of the truck that crashed into a crowd of spectators, killing eight and injuring almost a dozen, will not face criminal charges. Lopez explained that the event was what is called a “sanctioned event,” and California vehicle codes do not apply at these types of off-road events. The horrifying truck accident that, at first, only halted the race for an hour but was later canceled when the true carnage was actually realized, took place in California’s Mojave Desert Saturday night.
According to event rules, spectators are supposed to stand at least 100 feet back from the course, but videos and pictures from that night clearly show people standing within just feet of the vehicles on the track. Several spectators said though they admitted the crash was terrible, they know the risks when they attend these events.
Brett Sloppy, the driver of the truck, apologized to the families of the victims on his Facebook page and thanked his friends for sticking by him through “these tragic times.”
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management has been charged with investigating the accident to explore possible safety violations the night of the truck accident.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a truck accident in the Fort Myers, Florida area, please contact the Fort Myers truck accident attorneys at Lusk, Drasites, Tolisano & Smith, P.A. today to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation.
