Published in the High Desert Advocate in the August 13,2021 Edition.
Three high-speed accidents on the Salt Flats, during the yearly “Speed Week” have sent three drivers to the hospital, Sunday, August 8, 2021.
One of the crashes happened to a vehicle going over 200 miles per hour after its 81-year-old driver lost control.
According to the Southern California Timing Association (a competition sanctioning body that maintains rules and records for Land Speed Racing events), at approximately 11:15 a.m., Lloyd Halsey’s vehicle went out of control at a speed of 212.389 miles per hour. The 81 year old was taken by ambulance to a Life Flight and then flown to University Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Then a couple of hours later, at around 1:29 p.m., an other man, Bob Lewis, 77, lost control of his land speed motorcycle. He was driving at 97 miles per hour. He was also air lifted to University Hospital.
Another crash happened to an other car driver, only a couple of hours later. Driver Parker Merrill, 73, was traveling at 189.722 mph when he lost control of his land speed vehicle at about 3:42 p.m. “The a man in his 70s was going nearly 200 mph, flipping his car multiple times in the air before landing on its roof. The man was suspended upside down for about five minutes before crews arrived” said Bureau of Land Management officer Gochis.
He was also taken by ambulance to an awaiting medical helicopter who flew him to a Salt Lake area hospital in critical condition.
No information was released regarding their condition.
SCTA officials said the incidents are under investigation.
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