A person was struck by a drifting car before it set him on fire at a Jackson racetrack over the weekend.
Spectators at the event and drifting fans have shared video of the incident on social media.
In the video, the rear end of a white Dodge Charger that was making doughnuts on pavement slides backwards into a crowd of spectators and knocks at least one person to the ground. Before they can get to their feet, flames shooting out of the vehicle’s tailpipe set their pants on fire.
Jackson Police Chief Christopher Simpson said the incident happened during a private event held on private property at the Jackson Speedway. He said a group called the King of the Pit hosted the event.
“This was not on public streets,” he told Detroit News on Monday. “The event had drifting of motor vehicles in circles with spectators of around 2,000.”
Drifting is more commonly and illegally performed on city streets, and police have blamed social media for its rise, particularly in Detroit.
Simpson said it’s not known if the person whose pants caught fire was seriously injured, but added that “the sponsors did not have a first aid station there.”
The chief said there were two Jackson Police officers and two reserve police officers on site during the event.
In addition to the brief fire, a concealed pistol license holder reported losing his weapon at the event, and a report was completed, Simpson said.
He said that no arrests were made at the event.
Jackson Speedway officials were not available for comment on Monday.
The video was posted by the Motorcity Modified Auto Club, which boasts being the oldest hot rod and custom car club located in Detroit. Club officials were not immediately available for comment on Monday.
A group called the Mid Michigan Drift Club said on Facebook Sunday that the events at the Jackson Speedway were unfortunate.
“We want to thank our community for always being respectful, kind, and safe,” it said in a post. “While we weren’t involved in what happened, this impacts us all. Let’s stay positive and keep setting the standard.”
The Mid Michigan Drift Club hosts events at Jackson Speedway but Saturday’s event was not affiliated with the club.
Club officials were also not immediately available for comment on Monday.
cramirez@detroitnews.com
X: @CharlesERamirez
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Video: Spectator struck, set on fire by drifting car at Jackson Speedway
Reporting by Charles E. Ramirez, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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