22 pedestrians ranging in ages from 13 to 65 were injured and nine people were taken to nearby hospitals. Many of the injured were fans waiting for racers to leave the speedway after the race. Most of the injured received treatment at the scene, but seven were taken to Martinsville’s Memorial Hospital. Two others were transported to Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden. Police said they took the unnamed driver into custody for questioning. Alcohol does not appear to have been a factor in the crash.
One of the pedestrians hit told the media that the driver appeared to purposely run into the crowd. The police identified him as sixty-five year old Gary T. Edem of Fairfax, Virginia. He is charged with wreckless driving and has been placed on an unsecured bond of $7,500.Additional charges are pending as the investigation remains ongoing by the Virginia State Police, in consultation with the Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrew Nester.
