Woman Run Over By Race Car At Cherokee Speedway Returns Home
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By Jessica Heysek
Published: July 7, 2008
A woman who was seriously injured at the Cherokee Speedway last week is back at home Monday.
The accident happened late Thursday night. According to witnesses, a race car lost control going into a turn, went up and over the interior wall of the track, and landed on 23-year old Stacy Million, pinning her underneath a tow truck. A family friend tells News Channel 7 Stacy Million has a cracked tailbone and broken leg but is now resting at home.
Officials with Cherokee County EMS say it took 6 minutes to get to Million because there was no ambulance at the track and the dispatched unit had to come from the main station. Paramedics then had to fight through the crowd to get to Million because there was no crowd control.
The track’s owner, Lennie Buff, paid Ambustar, a private EMS firm, to have a rescue unit at the track for 2 races, but according to Ambustar owner Randy Guyton, Buff did not want to sign a written agreement for further service, so Ambustar stopped staffing the track. Cherokee County EMS officials say Buff had previously stopped paying the county to provide EMS service as well. Guyton tells News Channel 7’s Chris Cato, that the speedway is, “a very dangerous environment” with thousands of spectators and cars going over 100 mph with no medical services. Guyton claims he warned Buff to put an ambulance there because “something bad will happen”. Gaffney Fire Department also says several weeks ago, Buff stopped paying the department to place a fire truck at the races, meaning there is no instant means of fire suppression other than hand-held extinguishers.
Track owner Lennie Buff says he had made arrangements with the Grover Rescue Squad to provide an ambulance, but there was a miscommunication since races are usually held on Saturday night and this one was held on Thursday night. He says he will make sure this does not happen again. As for there not be a firetruck present, Buff says that he has his own fire supression equipment that is as good as anything the city of Gaffney has.
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Reader Reactions
Posted by ( stacym ) on July 11, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Hello Everyone,
Just wanted to tell everyone that I am ok. It does not matter if they are paying the poilce. The point is that emt and firetrucks needs to be there also. These are all PUBLIC SAFETY and is who the public needs to be safe. I do not blame Josh Hoots for this accident. NOR SHOULD I BE BLAMED. Accidents happen and this is just one of them. So as far as me in “A NO STANDIG ZONE” I have been going to the race for about 10 years and never seen a sign. Well thanks for all of the prayers. Stacy Million
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Posted by ( concernedmedic ) on July 08, 2008 at 7:01 am
i hope we dont see grover rescue squad there in the future since they can not operate in sc it will be a dhec violation and a criminal act
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Posted by ( KingdomRacing ) on July 07, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Posted by ( concerned24 ) on July 06, 2008 at 5:35 pm
In response to the statement written by KingdomRacing.Are you really that ignorant.It appears that you cant read so let me break it down for you.The owner of race track said there wasnt an ambulance there.Yes there were emt’s and first responders there thank god but they were not paid to be there so they provided care out of kindness.Teh fact is even if there was an ambulance and it left to transport someone the race is supposed to be stopped until they get back.As far as you saying the ambulance didnt have to fight through the crown to get to her because they parked right beside her that is hands down the dumbest statement i have ever heard after they fought through the crowd yes they parked beside her but im sure that just goes right over his head.Hopefully the racetrack will be shut down. On a more serious note my thoughts and prayers are with the family Stacy I hope you male a full recovery.
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Thats funny. Considering I am the one that showed the ambulance the way in from the front gate...And i was one of the officials on scene...If you werent there you should not make comments based off of what you read..
Thanks for showing your hiden agenda.
And if you want a real story, how about finding out why the officers on scene took so long to call dispatch to ask for an ambulance…
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Posted by ( concerned24 ) on July 06, 2008 at 5:35 pm
In response to the statement written by KingdomRacing.Are you really that ignorant.It appears that you cant read so let me break it down for you.The owner of race track said there wasnt an ambulance there.Yes there were emt’s and first responders there thank god but they were not paid to be there so they provided care out of kindness.Teh fact is even if there was an ambulance and it left to transport someone the race is supposed to be stopped until they get back.As far as you saying the ambulance didnt have to fight through the crown to get to her because they parked right beside her that is hands down the dumbest statement i have ever heard after they fought through the crowd yes they parked beside her but im sure that just goes right over his head.Hopefully the racetrack will be shut down. On a more serious note my thoughts and prayers are with the family Stacy I hope you male a full recovery.
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Posted by ( concernedmedic ) on July 06, 2008 at 1:58 pm
i think alot of these comments where they stated there was an ambulance there that night must have been a little intoxicated but that cant be that would never happen at the race track in gaffney look at the owners own words if you can read them or have someone read them to you there was notttt an ambulance there you must have been seeing things wake up people
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Posted by ( concernedmedic ) on July 06, 2008 at 1:53 pm
people are forgetting what the problem is about the accident at the race track theyshould be concerned about the people there and how to fix it not who was at fault yes there should have been an ambulance there i think it is required that is to dangerous a place not to have medical help there but the damage is done and im sure the girls family and lawyers will look into it in great detail but the owner stated grover rescue was supposed to be there unless they are a sc dhec inspected truck with sc emts on it they can not provide service in sc there are plenty of other private ambulance services in the gaffney area im very sure if the owner took the time to call them im sure something could be worked out all services are not concerned with the money some are actually concerned about the well being of our community and our children that go to the race my son wanted to go saturday night i would not let him because of this problem the owner doesnt have a problem paying the off duty police officers 40-50 dollars an hour to be there i dont see why he cant afford to pay an ambulance 15-20 dollars an hour per crew member to be there which is what he was paying in the past that is not to much to ask for the safety of our family members
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Posted by ( tlgf ) on July 06, 2008 at 8:31 am
Other accidents have happened at the race track. Please remember them and why they happened,and what needs to be done to prevent other accidents. Life and health can not be returned.
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Posted by ( Big Mack ) on July 06, 2008 at 7:06 am
Posted by ( lefrance2 ) on July 04, 2008 at 10:47 pm
well big mac,i guess it is safe to say that you must not be able to read.if you would read the article it says that the owners statement was that the car jumped the wall.but you were probabely too busy drinking a beer and feeding your face to see what happened!but i am sure you know more than the owners,at least you think so!!
Look,I am a traveling photographer,and I was in the center of turn one and two talking pictures,and saw every thing.I also have the only picture of the car up on the wall.As in my other post I do not drink,nor was I feeding my face.I know who you are and feel bad about your sister.I also know your father,from Cherokee.I also was one of the first to get to your sister and help roll the race car back.So I do know a little about this accident.We will keep praying for her and your family;Big Mack
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Posted by ( Big Mack ) on July 06, 2008 at 6:42 am
First of all,I DO Not Drink,never have,never will.Second of all,the facts were not reported as they happened.And I have sent a e-mail to this station telling then that I, and only I, have the picture of the car on the wall.If you blow the picture up,you can see what looks to be like the driver has been knocked out.Last of all,why should you put everyone that goes to a race track as a drunk.Maybe thats your life style,but not all.Big Mack
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Posted by ( racefan1 ) on July 05, 2008 at 11:03 pm
it seems to me that some of you who have posted a comment are still intoxicated from the party. i was there at the race at 5:30 and didn`t leave till around 2:30. i didn`t see any fire, rescue, ambulance personel all night until this unfortunate accident. furthermore i`m a EMT who was there with the young lady. i could`t administer ther proper help due to the fact the spectators were pulling me away from her. all wanting to know what was going on. what if it was your son or daughter. EMS did an outstanding job considering the amount of IDIOTS that got in the way. i guess what the real question is, the small price to pay for EMS, FIRE, must out way the cost of life. i hope the young lady has a speedy recovery, and gets the justice due.
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