By Shambhavi Rimal
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
KEENEDALE, Texas — A safety and rescue professional with more than two decades of experience, who was also a retired firefighter, was killed in a crash during a World of Outlaws sprint car race at Kennedale Speedway Park.
Billy Hurt was killed when two emergency vehicles collided during a sprint car race Saturday night, March 14, while responding to help following an accident on the track, according to World of Outlaws officials.
Kennedale police officers and firefighters responded to the crash about 9 p.m. at Kennedale Speedway Park, at 6737 Hudson Village Creek Road, police said in a news release.
Marcus Thomas, a sprint car driver, was riding in a car that rolled over while approaching the starting line for the Last Chance Showdown race.
While responding to help, the two World of Outlaws emergency vehicles collided, and Hurt and another driver, Jerry Myers , were thrown from the vehicles in the infield, authorities said.
Myers is in stable condition and recovering from his injuries, World of Outlaws officials said. Thomas reportedly was not seriously injured.
Billy Hurt known for professionalism and kindness
“Of those who dedicate their lives to safety efforts at dirt tracks across the country, there were few as committed as Billy Hurt,” officials with World of Outlaws said in a news release.
Hurt has helped the American Sprint Car Series, World of Outlaws NOS Energy Drink Sprint Car Series, Tulsa Shootout, and Chili Bowl Nationals in leading safety and rescue of sprint car drivers for more than 23 years, officials said.
“Beyond his professionalism, Billy exemplified what it meant to be a good person, always putting others before himself,” Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO, said in the release. “He dedicated his life to ensuring the safety of every racer, making their well-being his main priority. And beyond the track, his kindness shone further with every interaction, quickly becoming a friendly face to everyone he met. The entire World Racing Group family is deeply saddened by his loss.”
According to the Columbia Professional Firefighters Association, Hurt retired as a firefighter from Columbia, Missouri.
Hurt “mentored and taught countless members of the fire service and had limitless knowledge of heavy rescue and vehicle extrication techniques,” the firefighters’ association wrote in a social media post. “His unexpected and sudden passing is a tragedy, and we place our love and thoughts with his family.”
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