YouTube video posted by user tyler4dx that shows fans being injured by debris coming into the grandstand area at Daytona International Speedway.
DAYTONA BEACH – At least 15 people in the stands were reportedly injured at Daytona International Speedway when a multi-car accident sent wreckage into the safety fence in front of the grandstand Saturday afternoon.
The accident came on the final lap of the NASCAR Nationwide Series DRIVE4COPD 300.
Initial reports say at least 15 fans were injured, including four who were strapped to backboards.
Volusia County emergency responders transported eight race fans, six of which were trauma level patients with serious injuries, said Volusia County government spokesman Dave Byron.
Six of those patients were sent to Halifax Health Medical Center, one was taken to Florida Hospital Memorial Medical Center in Daytona Beach and one at Halifax Medical Center in Port Orange.
Florida Hospital spokeswoman Lindsay Rew confirmed they currently have one patient but are expecting four more.
Halifax Health Medical Center officials have not confirmed the number of patients at their facility but sources say there are about 10.
"The important thing is what's going on the front stretch right now," race winner Tony Stewart said."We've always known since racing was started this is a dangerous sport. But it's hard. We assume that risk. It's hard when the fans get caught up in it.
"As much as we want to celebrate right now, as much as this is a big deal to us, I'm more worried about the drivers and fans in the stands right now. I could see it all in the mirror and it didn't look good from where I was either."
As drivers jockeyed for position on the final lap, a number of cars made contact. Kyle Larson's' car was essentially sheared in half as cars spun out of control..
His engine ending up in front of fans along the front stretch after the car tore through the catch fence _ designed to protect fans in case of accidents. The debris splattered all over, going as far as to hit a spectator 45 rows up in the stands at Daytona International Speedway. Other car parts -- included a tire -- also flew into the stands.
"I know I took a couple of big hit there and saw my engine was gone," Larson said.
Although no driver was seriously hurt, NASCAR officials were still trying to assess if any fans had been seriously hurt.
"You've been able to see and explain," said Mike Helton, NASCAR President on the ESPN broadcast following the race. "There was some intrusion into the fence and there were plenty of emergency worker ready to go and jumped right into it quickly."
"They are moving folks into the care center and Halifax Medical Center."
Driver Michael Annett was transported to Halifax Medical Center after his car slammed into the SAFER barrier head on during an earlier incident during the race.
NASCAR spokesman Kerry Tharp said the damage to the stands in time for the running of the 55th Daytona 500 Sunday afternoon.
Sentinel staff writer Arelis R. Hernández contributed to this report. Read George Diaz's blog at OrlandoSentinel.com/enfuego or e-mail him at gdiaz@orlandosentinel.com
Multi-car wreck injures spectators of NASCAR race
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Multi-car wreck injures spectators of NASCAR race
