Thompson Sources: "Serious" And "Traumatic" Injuries Sustained By NEMA Midget Driver Shane Hammond

According to multiple sources at Thompson International Speedway, NEMA Driver Shane Hammond was being treated for what were described as “serious” and “traumatic” injuries following a crash in the NEMA Midget feature Sunday at Thompson International Speedway.

Hammond, 27, got together with the car driven by Chris Leonard of Pelham, N.H. heading into turn 3 on lap 4 and his car ended up going over the concrete wall at the entrance to the corner and through a loose banner billboard above the wall.

It was unclear if Hammond’s car impacted with the stanchion holding the banner billboard upright.

The accident took place at 1:06 p.m. Rescue personnel spent about 12 minutes extricating Hammond from the car. The ambulance carrying Hammond left the track at 1:18 p.m. headed to Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam. A track official said Hammond was expected to be airlifted from Day Kimball to a unknown trauma center.

At 2:11 p.m. a flatbed with Hammond’s car, covered by a tarp, slowly drove through the back paddock area at Thompson where NEMA teams were parking their haulers for the event. A state police cruiser with its lights flashing followed the flatbed out of the track.

The race, scheduled for 25-laps, was called off by NEMA officials after the crash. The race is part of the 8 event Icebreaker 2008 card at the track, the kickoff of the local racing season. There was a 1 hour and 34 minute delay after the crash as track workers removed what was left of the billboard.

Shawn Courchesne, 2:54 p.m.

Comments

[bugpartsoup]

I was there, my heart and prayers go out to his family.

[jay]

i was thea watching from the frontstretch and saw it all i was in disbelief

[jay]

i was thea watching from the frontstretch and saw it all i was in disbelief

[Danielle Blewett]

I arrived and saw ambulances after a 4 1/2 hour drive from N.J. to see my brother Jimmy Blewett race today. On 8/16/07 my brother John was killed at this track. This is a horrible tragedy and I pray for the family. The last 7 months have been the absolute most difficult days of my life. This article is quite graphic and I am very grateful I did not witness the accident. I know we need details, but when we provide too much detail, we plant visions in people’s mind that do not necessarily need to be there. I speak from experience and please be aware of the family's feelings and emotions at this most difficult time.

[Johnny Rocket]

Drive slower