Four spectators killed at illegal North Carolina drag race

[Little Tich]

Source: Yahoo! News / Reuters

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (Reuters) - Four people were killed and three seriously injured in a North Carolina town when a driver lost control of his car during an illegal drag race and slammed into a group of spectators, authorities said on Monday.

The North Carolina Highway Patrol charged Jimmy Pierce II, 37, of Zebulon with three counts of second-degree murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury. Pierce, who suffered minor injuries, is in custody. The other driver in the race fled the scene and remains at large.

Pierce made his first appearance in court on Monday and is being held in lieu of a $1 million bond. Mike Reece, his court-appointed lawyer, could not be reached immediately for comment.

Killed at the scene were Carlton Ray Brooks, 42; Arrington Earp, 23; Garland Earp, 38, addresses unknown; and Undra Montrell Taybron, 40, of Wilson, the Highway Patrol said in a news release.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/four-spectators-killed-illegal-north-carolina-drag-race-213500126.html

[GReedDiamond]

1. I'm sitting here with the Discovery Channel tuned in...

...half-watching a show I've never before heard of, called Street Outlaws, which appears to be a "reality show" about street racing.

I remember hearing about some deaths resulting from a street race here in the L.A. area, a few months back.

Which begs the question, is it irresponsible of the Discovery Channel to glamorize and promote street racing for ratings?

[quickesst]

7. Street Outlaws...

...races now take place with permits and safety precautions. The actual races are real. Being an old racing enthusiast, I admit to liking the show. If people want to do something significant concerning road safety, I believe they would be better served by directing their attention toward drunk driving, and texting while driving, which by the way are pretty much identical to each other in accident rate. Of course I don't really expect much if any agreement with my view as I am old school, and I am not enamored with all the new age progressive bent in finding horror in everything I don't understand, or that goes against my personal opinions. But then, that's just my opinion. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go watch the the latest episode I have on dvr season pass.

[Historic NY]

9. Its wasn't always

A star of the controversial reality show Street Outlaws faces two murder counts after his arrest Thursday in connection with an illegal street race that killed two people in Chatsworth, California, a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles.

Israel Valenzuela, also known as “Izzy Performance,” was not driving the vehicle that spun out of control at the start of an illegal drag race on February 26, but under California’s strict laws banning street racing, he could be held criminally liable for the deaths of Eric Siguenza, 26, and Wilson Thomas Wong, 50, who were struck by the vehicle as it spun onto the sidewalk at speeds witnesses reported as exceeding 55 miles per hour.

A third man was injured in the street race gone wrong, and Valenzuela, 38, also faces a charge of, according to a statement issued by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, “engaging in a motor vehicle speed contest on a highway causing a concussion.”

Police say that they believe Valenzuela and another man also charged, 21-year-old Henry Michael Gevorgyan, “allegedly helped promote and organize an illegal street race” that resulted in the tragic accident.

The Discovery Channel show Street Outlaws has been called “the worst idea for a show ever,” by the automotive blog Jalopnik, and the National Hot Rod Association has sent letters to several participants in the reality show warning that their licenses to take part in sanctioned NHRA events could be suspended due to their participation in the reality show.

http://www.inquisitr.com/1902570/street-outlaws-murder-rap/

[GReedDiamond]

14. This Feb 26th incident is the one I referred to in my Post #1...

...so much for the "permits and safety precautions."

[GReedDiamond]

11. Thanks for the clarification...

..I had never heard of the show before.

I watched it last night for the first time, thought it was interesting.

However, I was concerned about the "outlaw" nature of the racing, as bad things can happen when the cars get out of control.

There was a scene where one of the racers crashed, and while nobody was hurt, it had the potential to cause a lot of damage.

It seemed to me that the races were being held in the desert, so I assume that lowers the risk (to people and property) quite a bit. With permits and safety precautions, I suppose that the races are fairly safe.

I used to go to drag races when I was a kid in the early-to-mid 60s, usually NHRA or AHRA events.

My friend two doors over from me at the time was named Tommy Riggle, his uncle was Bob, driver of the Hurst Hemi Under Glass.

Whenever he was in the area for an event, he'd park his rig with the HHUG in the driveway, and the next day, we'd go to the drag strip, usually U.S. 30 in Indiana. One time we went to Great Lakes Naval Air Station, saw the HHUG and the Blue Angels perform.

Here's a link to a site showing U.S. 30 then and now.

On edit: I see Post #9 - sounds like sanctioning bodies such as NHRA are opposed to the Street Outlaws reality show concept, which does not surprise me. Having seen the show but one time, and never having heard of its existence before, and knowing nothing about the individual racers involved, it sounds like it may be irresponsible programming as I suspected, if Post #9 is an indicator.

If that's the case, I'd probably remove the show from my viewing list.

[quickesst]

17. Probably most people here...

...Will not like it, and I find NHRA too tame, and a little boring. One of the things I like about this show is these guys, and a few gals are working people with a passion. They build these cars with their own money, blood, sweat, and tears. They have no corporate, or mega sponsors who can foot the bill for professional crews, cars, and equipment. The professional driver is just that, a driver. I like the way the show has developed, and I really don't believe Discography would be a part of anything close to the type of crap mentioned in the OP. Like I said, I'm an old school drag racing enthusiast from way back. My motto is, and always has been, MOPAR OR NO CAR!

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

13. yup

[C Moon]

2. Unfortunately, this happens a lot in Los Angeles /Southern California.

I worked for a small newspaper years ago, and one of the other employees (18 years old) was shot while standing in a crowd watching a street race. It was a drive-by gang shooting that took down an innocent kid. It was a sad next morning at work. The paper placed a dedication to him, fwiw.

Ever since that day, I see these deaths in the news a few times per year.

[SusanaMontana41]

3. Oh my god. n/t

[OakCliffDem]

4. I wonder if this will be featured on "Street Outlaws"

Thanks Discovery Channel, we just love reality shows about illegal, dangerous activities that make it look like it is just A-Okay to do.

[snooper2]

8. Usually is, unless you are in a Rustang

They always go sideways-

Useless cars - and of course one was involved in this crash-

[alcibiades_mystery]

5. I feel for the victims' families, I really do

At the same time, it's curious that people who go to spectate at an illegal drag race don't get the same treatment as dudes who jump in alligator ponds. It's one thing if these races kill completely uninvolved bystanders or other drivers. But these four apparently went there for the purpose of watching the race. It seems like a danger that could have and should have been avoided.

(Ultimately, probably nobody should get the dude in an alligator pond treatment, even the dude in the alligator pond.)

[bonniebgood]

6. where are the police and other law enforcement when a

large number of people are gathering? Oh I can guess they are probably in the minority neighborhood looking for 'thugs' selling loose cigarettes, j walking, driving while black, looking suspicious etc. No one can convince me that law officials did not know about this out in the open illegal activity. The chose to look the other way in 'protecting the public' racist asshats.

[Historic NY]

15. Actually the racers do this on the spur of the moment...

unannounced locations, most times cops just get to see the tail lights or shovel up the remains. Countless progams between sanctioned racing organization and the police along with educations programs spanning decades and this stuff still goes on. The police don't look the other way they have much invested in preventing it. Shows like this glamorize it...along with the betting (gambling).

http://www.laweekly.com/news/54-cars-taken-by-cops-in-street-racing-bust-video-5510447

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_28228962/police-blotter-cops-break-up-street-race-involving

http://abc30.com/news/los-banos-pd-1-killed-1-arrested-in-dui-street-racing-crash/846855/

http://evostreetracers.org/beatthebadge.html one of many programs..

[Eleanors38]

22. Drag racing has had a more diverse audience than the round 'n' rounds, even at sanctioned strips.

[Marrah_G]

10. I didn't realize that older adults were part of this scene

For some reason I always thought it was a bunch of 20 somethings.

[Crabby Appleton]

12. This occurred in a rural area

near Middlesex NC (pop, 822), about 15-20 people gathered to watch the drag race. Below is a photo of the 4 people killed.

[Judi Lynn]

20. Thanks for posting this group of photos of the "2nd degree murder" victims.

I wondered if there was a common thread.

What a monstrous shame.

[One_Life_To_Give]

16. Dragstrip Finder shows 21 Strips in NC

Seems to be no shortage of safer places in NC to undertake such activities. Why do it where bad things happen should a piece of hardware fail?

[Judi Lynn]

18. Ugly way to spend your time.

[center]

Jimmy Pearce, 37, of Zebulon, is facing three second-degree murder charges
and two assault with a deadly weapon inflicting serious injury charges.

[/center]

[Eleanors38]

21. That's why there are sanctioning bodies and state-mandated insurance policies.