Accident at Race Track Leads to Confrontation Between Angry Fans

A June 8 accident which resulted in injuries to race car driver reportedly led to an angry confrontation between two groups of Winder Barrow Speedway spectators.

According to the Barrow County Sheriff's Office incident report, four deputies working security at the speedway assisted medical personnel in removing the injured driver from the race car after a large crowd began forming around the wrecked vehicle.

A segment of the crowd was reportedly "very upset" with the driver of the other vehicle involved in the accident. The rest of the crowd was comprised of friends and family of the driver.

Upon approaching the group, the deputy noticed one man attempting to remove a hammer from his back pocket. The deputy took the hammer and ordered the man to leave the area.

The deputy positioned himself between the two groups of spectators and instructed the uninjured driver to load his vehicle and leave the area. When friends and family of the injured driver started to move toward the uninjured driver, a supervisor at the scene instructed the deputy to draw his taser in an effort to keep the crowd at bay.

"The other deputies and I were able to make a larger opening between the two groups, though we were unable to completely disperse the crowd due to their large numbers and our limited manpower," the deputy wrote in the report.

Just as the crowd began to disperse, the uninjured driver reportedly left his vehicle and began arguing with the group after a comment was made that upset him. 

"In an effort to maintain control of the situation, I turned to face [the driver]. I placed my hand on [the driver's] chest and forced him away from the approaching subjects," the report stated.

The driver, according to the report, did not appreciate the contact or the intervention and reportedly expressed his displeasure. The deputy informed the driver that failure to comply would lead to his arrest on a charge of disorderly conduct.

As the deputy focused his attentions on maintaining peace in the crowd, the driver loaded his vehicle and began to leave.

"I was forced to intervene a second time when [the driver] chose to stop his vehicle and engage in a verbal dispute with a group of spectators who lined the fence," the deputy added.

Eventually the driver did leave the property and the deputies returned to their assigned duties. No arrests were made.

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