The Orlando Sentinel is reporting that a decision to run Exotic Driving Experience sports cars in the wrong direction at the Walt Disney World Speedway was a factor in the death of an instructor there, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The instructor, Gary Terry, died when the driver of the car lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a guardrail. Richard Petty Driving Experience cars ran clockwise on the track while Exotic Driving Experience vehicles ran the opposite way. Both offerings were run by the same company.
“If the cars were going in the proper direction, yes, this probably would not have been a fatal accident,” crash investigator FHP Cpl. David Rodriguez told the Orlando Sentinel.
“With the release of the Florida Highway Patrol report, our thoughts remain with Gary’s family, friends and our crew members,” the Richard Petty Driving Experience said in an emailed statement. “With safety as our most important priority, we will continue to review our operations and safety procedures.”
The Exotic Car Experience closed following the accident. Although originally scheduled to reopen, it never did so. The Richard Petty Driving Experience closed August 9 which was scheduled prior to the incident, so that Walt Disney World could expand the Magic Kingdom parking lots.
OSHA is continuing to investigate the incident.