Retired extrication expert and firefighter killed in collision responding to crash at a Texas race track

A veteran safety official and former firefighter was killed, and another was seriously injured after their all‑terrain vehicles collided while they were rushing to assist a crashed racecar during a World of Outlaws sprint car event in Texas . The World of Outlaws racing organisation identified the man who died as Billy Hurt, a well-recognised figure throughout the sprint car community. A second official, Jerry Myers, was taken to the hospital with serious injuries and is “stable and recovering,” the organization said.

The incident happened just before 9 pm on Saturday at Kennedale Speedway Park in Kennedale, outside Fort Worth. According to the Kennedale Police Department, the two officials were responding to an on‑track accident when their ATVs reportedly struck each other , throwing both men from their vehicles. The race was cancelled shortly afterwards.

Spectators described the collision as a highly unusual event in a sport where safety crews routinely respond to high‑speed crashes. Billy Hurt, a safety official at Kennedale Speedway Park near outside Fort Worth, died in 'freak accident' (Sedalia Firefighters Local 103 Union) “This is a freak accident,” Tommy Williams Jr. , a race fan who witnessed the scene, told NBC Dallas-Fort Worth .

“I took a little bit for it to realize what really happened... I've never seen anything like that in the infield. It was all a shock.