Car leaves Merritt oval, injures woman
A Late Model that left the racing surface at Merritt Speedway in Lake City, Mich., after the car's throttle hung struck an occupied ticket booth, leaving a Muskegon woman with a pelvic fracture and other injuries, according to various news reports.
The race car driven by 50-year-old J.T. Anderson of Cadillac, Mich., went through a fence and struck one spectator before sliding into the ticket booth. Two employees were inside the booth while another nearby employee was also struck, according to a report from WPBN-TV in Traverse City.
Jennifer Johnson-Kiel, 31, was extricated from the ticket booth by emergency responders and airlifted to Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, where her injuries included a fractured pelvis and broken rib. Two other employees were treated and released at a nearby hospital, according to the track. Anderson wasn’t injured.
Johnson-Kiel is expected to make a full recovery, but she’ll be out of work at least three months. An account has been set up to defray medical expenses.
“We ask that everyone continue your thoughts and prayers for all those that were involved,” Merritt promoters posted on the track Facebook page. "Thank you to everyone who helped during the extraction process, for your patience, and understanding.The racing community is truly one big family, and that showed once again last night.”