Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 26, 1993 TAG: 9307260134
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: PITTSBURGH LENGTH: Short
"It went over the wall and got wedged between the wall and a tree," said police Cmdr. Louis Scenna.
The Allegheny County Coroner's office identified the victim as David Kuhn, 50, of Lexington, Mass.
"He had raced here before, at least once, if not more, and he knew where he was and what he was doing," said race chairman John Walko.
Walko said the accident was being investigated and the cause may have been mechanical failure or a medical problem with Kuhn. He was dead on arrival at Presbyterian University Hospital and an autopsy was scheduled for today.
No other vehicles were involved in the accident, which occurred while MG autos built in the 1940s and 1950s were racing.
Kuhn, who was driving a 1953 MG-TD model, went over a 3-foot wall and fell about 8 feet on the opposite side.
"His head actually was pinned between the tree and the body of the car itself, which unfortunately severed his trachea," said city emergency medical services supervisor John Moon.
About 20 cars were on the course at the time of the accident. Kuhn was reported to have slipped to the rear of the pack before running off the road.
Drivers cover the 2.3-mile course through Schenley Park six times at speeds ranging from 30 mph to 70 mph, officials said.
The death was the first in the 11-year history of the race, said officials of the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix Association.
Keywords:
AUTO RACING FATALITY
by CNB