One BLM ranger was on patrol during deadly race
Comments 5
August 25, 2010 3:28 PM
The ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A federal agency said Wednesday it had just one ranger patrolling a 50-mile off-road race where a competing truck killed eight spectators gathered close to the Mojave Desert course.
The Bureau of Land Management said the ranger was patrolling the course in the Johnson Valley off-highway vehicle area on Aug. 14 when a spectator flagged him down and reported the truck had slammed into the crowd and overturned.
“The ranger immediately responded, and once at the scene, quickly assessed the situation, and called for emergency support,” said Jan Bedrosian, BLM deputy state director of external affairs, said in a statement.
The BLM, which issued permits for the California 200 race, has maintained that the event’s organizer was responsible for spectator safety.....
http://www.desertdispatch.com/news/race-9110-angeles-ranger.html