RV driver killed on speedway after getting hit by a school bus during “Race ‘Em or Wreck ‘Em” event in Iowa. Which leads to the question who came up with the idea to have RVs race against school buses?
RV driver killed on speedway as hundreds watched helplessly. A 68-year-old man named John Pickart died last weekend after the RV he was driving was hit by a school bus.
Pickart was taking part in the annual “Race ‘Em or Wreck ‘Em” on Saturday at the Hawkeye Downs Speedway in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. “Race ‘Em or Wreck ‘Em” features old school buses racing against aged RVs.
According to eyewitnesses, the grey and white RV that Pickart was driving, was struck by a brown school bus.
The RV rolled over and was hit by another school bus that failed to stop on time. Paramedics rushed to scene, but the driver of the RV was trapped inside.
It took members of the Cedar Rapids Police Department and The Cedar Rapids Fire Department over thirty minutes to get the driver out. The event was canceled immediately after the tragedy and fans were asked to leave.
In a statement issued by Cedar Rapids Public Safety Communications Coordinator Greg Buelow, it was revealed that Pickart was the only person in the vehicle. Buelow, added that no criminal charges will be brought against the driver of the school bus.
Hawkeye Downs Executive Director Roy Nowers, also put out a statement where he expressed his condolences to Pickart’s family. Nowers said:
“Our deepest condolences go out to the driver’s family, friends and loved ones.Hawkeye Downs has a long history of racing and when an accident like this happens it is a hard blow to everyone. We are a tight knit racing community at Hawkeye Downs and are all deeply saddened by this tragic accident.”
Nowers was asked if the accident will affect his company and when was the last time a person was killed at Hawkeye Downs? He declined to comment saying that he needs to verify some data to give proper answers.
After the RV driver was killed on the speedway, Race ‘Em or Wreck ‘Em promoter Arlo Becker, briefly spoke to media where he revealed that the next race scheduled for September 21st has been cancelled.
