This is bad news. Since many of us have attended Cars for Kids shows, I felt this would be something that MCCC members would need to know about. Suffice it to say that this is a tragedy of unfathomable scope. When one attends a drag race or other motor-sports event one has accepted the possibility, however remote, of potential injury or death due to the inherent risks associated with motor racing. But this was a car show & parade, and would not generally be considered a theater of such hazards. Something went very wrong here, but reserve judgement about the circumstances until details are known, and accept the likelihood that it was a freak accident. Extend sympathy for the victims and their families, and for Larry Price and the Cars for Kids crew as this has got to be beyond difficult. These people were trying to do good things, and have done so successfully for 18 years, which makes the whole thing that much harder to understand.

I've pasted the press release into this post since it's all over the web, the radio, the TV, and who knows where else. Since these things have a habit of vanishing within a few days, I thought you should have a chance to read the news reports as they initially appeared. The copy is from the Associated Press, and here is one of many links to the story.

LK

SELMER, Tenn. - A drag-racing vehicle lost control during a parade and spun into a crowd of bystanders Saturday night, killing four adults and injuring up to 15 people, authorities said.

Investigators were trying to determine what caused the vehicle to careen into the crowd at the Cars for Kids charity event in Selmer, located about 80 miles east of Memphis.

Witness Scott Henley said the vehicle started burning off its tires, then began to fishtail and slammed into a light pole before spinning around into the audience.

Selmer Police Chief Neal Burks said, "bodies were flying into the air when it happened."

Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Browning said at least eight people were taken to three hospitals.

The identities of the victims and the driver, or the driver's condition, were not immediately known.

Browning said the vehicle has been described as a drag-racing car, but he did not have more details yet about the vehicle.

Matthew Brammer, administrator of AMS Pro Modified Series, which sanctions drag races, said late Saturday that the car involved has been driven by drag racer Troy Critchley, of Wylie, Texas, but he did not know if Critchley was driving when the car struck the crowd.

The AMS Pro Modified Series later issued a news release that did not identify the driver, but said he was a veteran of more than 20 years in drag racing and had to be taken to the emergency room.

The release said the driver was performing an "exhibition burnout" _ spinning the tires to make them heat up and smoke _ when road conditions caused the car to lose control, striking a utility pole and then veering into the crowd.

"The race team is in shock and deeply saddened by this unexpected event. Their hearts and prayers are with the injured people and their families," the release said.

Sheriff's officials and police began to close the festival shortly after the accident. About 40,000 to 60,000 people were expected to attend the weekend event.

Cars for Kids holds several events throughout the nation and raises close to $200,000 annually for charities that help children in need, according to its Web site.

The charity was formed in 1990, two years after founder Larry Price's son, Chad, suffered a severe head injury in a bicycle accident.

Price promised that if his son was saved from lifelong injuries, he would spend the rest of his life raising funds for disabled children, according to the Web site.

Price could not be reached for comment Saturday night.

UPDATE: This thing just keeps getting worse. Six are dead as of Sunday morning. Latest news here.