by LAREIGN WARD, Press Argus-Courier Staff Tuesday, September 2, 2008 3:17 PM CDT
A Van Buren teenager was killed and another critically wounded Thursday during what law enforcement described as an attempt to videotape a drag race.
Crawford County Chief Deputy Ron Brown said the accident happened shortly after midnight on Thornhill Road near Kibler.
Killed was 18-year-old Sam Robinson, the videographer, when he was struck by a motorcycle driven by Trey Nelson, 19, who was in intensive care at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center Friday morning.
"The pedestrian died of his injuries, and then the motorcycle rider, as of late yesterday, he had come out of surgery, several hours of surgery, but was in critical condition," Brown said.
He said an original witness to the accident claimed there was only one motorcycle involved, but in talking to other witnesses, authorities believe there was a second motorcycle rider, and Nelson and the other rider were drag-racing.
He was unsure why Robinson was filming the race, but said he may have intended to upload it to the Web site YouTube.
"He was apparently on the center line filming it; we believe that took place," Brown said. "He was filming it, and it was to document the two motorcycles passing on both sides of him at a high rate of speed."
Brown said Nelson suffered "a life-threatening internal injury" and he believed Nelson received 13 to 14 units of blood before going into surgery. He said "we're not 100 percent sure at this time" if Robinson was hit by Nelson when the latter lost control of his motorcycle, or if Robinson stepped into the motorcycle's path.
Brown said the quarter-mile stretch of Thornhill Road where the accident occurred was known to the sheriff's department as a popular drag-racing strip.
"Several months ago, we'd had some complaints about this and we had extra-patrolled it and hadn't had any complaints in a while," Brown said.
Brown said criminal charges may be possible, although none had been filed as of Friday. He said the other motorcycle rider has been located and interviewed, but did not name him. Brown said authorities will also have to talk to Nelson about the incident when he is well enough to be interviewed.
Funeral service for Robinson is set for 10 a.m. Tuesday at Edwards Van-Alma Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be at Gill Cemetery.
