BONNEVILLE SALT FLATS, Utah (ABC 4 News) - A man was injured during a speed run at the Bonneville Salt Flats on Wednesday. A female driver also crashed, but walked away unhurt after going more than 240 MPH.
Rescue crews say the 52-year-old Steve Pearson of Lander, Wyoming crashed going nearly 175 MPH. He was flown by helicopter to University of Utah Medical Center for observation, but rescue crews think he had only minor injuries.
A short time later, 57-year-old Gale Phillips from Pismo Beach, California crashed the vehicle she was driving as well. Race track officials say Phillips was going more than 240 MPH when the vehicle she was driving left the course and rolled. She refused medical attention, and walked away without a scratch.
The crashes came during the annual Speed Week event at Bonneville. It was the third day of the event, and Wednesday's incidents were the first crashes of the week. Both crashes happened on the same 5-mile long course after the racers had finished their fist timed segments.
Both crashes involved two Lakesters, specialized gas-powered cars used to set or break speed records. They are the fastest vehicles participating in Speed Week. After the crashes, the cars were impounded by race officials to checked for any mechanical failures.
More than 500 competitors will participate in the event, and already more than 80 records have been broken this week.
One course official told ABC 4 News the condition of the salt on the course was most likely not a factor in the crashes, and added the salt was in its best condition of the past 31 years.
In 2005, a man was killed during a similar speed run.
