Cars in action during the Whyalla speedway meeting on Saturday night. Picture:: Facebook
Source: Supplied
THE Whyalla community has had a tragic start to 2015.
The Eyre Peninsula city is grappling with its fifth tragedy in four months after the death of a race steward at a speedway event on Saturday night.
Emergency services were called to the Westline Speedway on Iron Knob Rd after the 58-year-old racing official was hit by a car about 7.30pm.
The Findon man was given CPR at the scene and taken to Whyalla Hospital but died of his injuries.
He is the ninth person to be killed in tragic circumstances in the greater Whyalla area since December 29.
Whyalla Mayor Jim Pollock said the community had been hit hard.
“It’s certainly a real tragedy,” he said.
“We as a community feel for the victim’s family and others (involved in the speedway event).
“It certainly hasn’t been a good start to 2015 for the Whaylla community given that not long ago we had seven deaths on our roads within a month and now this has happened
“If you go speedway racing there’s always a chance of an incident but when you’re not invovled in driving the motor vehicles but an innocent stewart, it’s a real tragedy.”
Street stock driver Darren Flatman – who raced on Saturday night – posted on Facebook he had known the steward for two decades.
“A person who I have known for more than 20 years lost his life tonight involved in a sport he loves.
“(It was) no ones fault, just unfortunately an accident happened. My thoughts are with there family and to the driver and their family.”
An SA Police spokesman said police were working to support the families of those involved and would prepare a report for the coroner.
SA Police Major Crash officers flew to Whyalla on Sunday to investigate the crash.
SafeWork SA and the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport may also be called in to investigate.
The speedway – which is under new management – hosted a range of events at the racing meet on Saturday night, including street stocks, lightening sprints, junior sedans and modlites.
Adelaide-based Speedway Australia released a short statement via Facebook, offering those involved counselling and extending its condolences to the victim’s family.
The fatal accident comes after a man was killed when he was struck by an excavator at a Whyalla Norrie auto wreckers.
On January 22, Port Pirie residents Michael Camporeale, 59, and his twin sons Leigh and James, both 33, died in a crash with a semi-trailer at Cultana, near Whyalla.
Two days later, a man and woman, both 60 and living in Whyalla, were killed in a crash with a truck on the Lincoln Hwy near Cowell.
Whyalla locals Natasha Turnbull and James Moore, both 24, were tragically killed in a crash on the Lincoln Hwy, about 30km from their hometown, on December 29.
A Whyalla man, 36, has been charged over the crash.
Man killed after hit by car during racing at Westline Speedway at Whyalla
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