But they are not actively looking for the drivers who were taking part in the illegal race because they were not directly involved in the crash, Lewis said.

OK.....I had friends who were there. I know one of the guys killed. This is what happened.

A guy named (name deleted) had just raced a Nova and won and came back to the starting area. He already had another race lined up. That race started and as the two cars began passing the crowd lined up along the sides of the road, the people inevitably wander into the road to get a better view of the finish of the race. As they did, a car that wasn't participating in the race nor in the group of cars pulled to the side to watch the race, came flying down the road with NO LIGHTS ON and plowed into the crowd of spectators. The car, a Ford Crown Vic, sent bodies flying into the air and all along the road. The car slid down the shoulder and almost into a parking area filled with more cars. The Crown Vic was tore up and actually had spectators body parts inside of it when it came to a stop. The road was littered with shoes, clothes and body parts. Many od the spectators were injured and limped into their cars to get away from the scene before the cops showed up. As they drove away, they had to do an obstacle course around the bodies. Some stopped in a 7-11 down the street and were discussing it when another car came in and said a tractor trailer had come through and run over the bodies and hit another person.

My firends said it was unreal. They said it sounded like two cars collided when the car hit the people. As it turns out, I know one of the guys killed, knew of one of the other guys killed and may know more when thry finally release the names. It is now up to 8 people killed with many more injured. All of the injured people aren't being reported on TV because they left the scene and may have gone to other hospitals to avoid getting into legal trouble for being at the scene. There is also at least one video of it.

As far as the family gathering part, street racing in the Washington DC/Baltimore area has always had a big following. I know of fathers who flagged their own sons street races and sons who flagged their own fathers races. Lots of people around here have passed on the tradition of street racing, good or bad.

Originally Posted by 71 Ventura II
BUT why would people wonder out into the middle of a major highway? JD"

"Well, there were over 100 people (some say 200) that were watching the street race. If you stand at the start line and the cars leave, people tend to wander out in the street to get a better vantage point to see who wins the race. If the people watching the race are lined up down the road (like they usually are), once one person leans out to look around somebody the person behind him leans out and then the next steps out and so on. It's like being at a football game or whatever and the guy in front of you stands up.....You have to stand up to get a better view. Then the guy behind you stands up.

The road where this happened is a pretty rural road and isn't heavily travelled except during rush hour. At 2-3 in the morning it's pretty well empty. That road has been used since the 60's for racing. I used to be there almost every weekend during the 80's-early 90's. That particular racing spot showcased the "faster" cars, not the fart pipe imports. I have watched dragsters come out of a trailer and make a pass against Pro Stock type cars for big money....over $10K. (this particular race this weekend was for $2500)They never had an issue making a pass, even without lights on those cars. That's why I am curious about the Crown Vic and him not being able to see.