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NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE OFFICIAL NEWS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 17, 2008


State Police Fatal Accident Unit Releases Findings on Drag Strip Crash that Claimed Life of Scott Kalitta


West Trenton, N.J. - The New Jersey State Police has concluded its investigation of the motor vehicle racing crash that claimed the life of NHRA Top Fuel Funny Car driver Scott Kalitta. The crash happened on June 21, 2008 at 4:20 p.m. during the Lucas Oil NHRA SuperNational drag racing event at Old Bridge Township Raceway Park.

The NJSP Fatal Accident Investigation Unit has provided the following description of the crash: Scott Kalitta occupied the right lane in a 1/4-mile (qualifying) drag race against opponent Tony Bartone and was operating a 2008 Toyota Solara Top Fuel Funny Car. Shortly after the race began, Bartone’s vehicle experienced an equipment failure and its speed slowed substantially. Moments later, Kalitta’s vehicle experienced a catastrophic mechanical failure resulting in a fuel-fired explosion prior to the quarter-mile finish line. Kalitta’s vehicle crossed the 1/4 mile mark 0.716 seconds later, at a speed of 300.73 MPH. At the time of the explosion, the rear portion of the vehicle’s fiberglass body separated from the vehicle causing deployment of the damaged parachute system.

Evidence discovered in Kalitta’s lane revealed that he had applied mechanical braking and maintained steering control of the vehicle throughout the 2235-foot-long “shutdown” portion of the racetrack. Post crash examination of the vehicle further revealed the clutch system to be locked, maintaining engine power to the rear wheels. Witnesses and audio recordings reveal the vehicle’s engine firing throughout the shutdown portion of the racetrack, which further reinforced the fact that the vehicle’s engine was still providing power for some period of time.

The vehicle continued from the point of engine failure to the end of the racetrack (approx. 2300') on fire over the course of approximately 7.07 seconds. Upon reaching the end of the paved racetrack, Kalitta’s vehicle entered a “run-off” area constructed of pea gravel at a speed of approximately 125 mph and was positioned near the centre of the racetrack’s right lane. As Kalitta’s racecar entered the “run-off” area, the front of the vehicle appeared to pitch upward, allowing air under the vehicle’s fiberglass nose resulting in its separation from the chassis. Over the course of the following .5-second, the vehicle took flight and traveled toward the right side of the run-off area and over the western concrete retaining wall. Immediately thereafter, the vehicle impacted a steel post that supported the right side of a cargo net which was in place to stop race vehicles from passing this area of the racetrack. This impact was specific to the right side of the vehicle and caused separation of the right front suspension components and damage to the right side engine exhaust system. The vehicle continued forward and impacted a piece of heavy equipment (JLG model 600S telescopic boom lift vehicle with a specified (dry) weight of 22,750 pounds), which was positioned outside the “run-off” area by the ESPN television crew. This impact caused catastrophic damage to the vehicle and additional separation of chassis components and the vehicle’s engine. Beyond the boom lift vehicle, a Chevrolet van and a Suzuki Ozark ATV, which were also positioned by ESPN television crew, were damaged by collision debris. The largest portion of the race vehicle came to rest in a grassy area 250' south of the shutdown area and 153' from the initial pole impact. Scott Kalitta was contained in this portion of the race vehicle and had sustained fatal blunt force injuries. A review of information provided by Delphi, which was recorded by accelerometers, mounted to the Kalitta vehicle revealed multiple impacts producing over 100G, with some approaching or exceeding 200G. No information was obtained from the RacePac data recorder installed in the Kalitta vehicle. Post mortem examination confirmed that Scott Kalitta’s death was caused by multiple blunt trauma injuries.

The New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit has identified the following items to be noteworthy or contributory in the occurrence of this incident:

Engine Failure

The stimulus behind the sequence of events leading to the death of Scott Kalitta was a massive failure of the vehicle’s engine. Although not uncommon in Top Fuel drag racing, the exact diagnosis and chronological succession of the engine failure in this incident was beyond the scope of the State Police investigation. After post-crash inspection of Kalitta’s vehicle components by the NJSP, the vehicle was turned over to the NHRA and, ultimately Kalitta Motorsports.

Fuel Flow Interruption

After failure of the engine in the Kalitta vehicle, a fire ensued which survived for more than seven seconds, throughout the crash sequence. Additionally, fuel continued to be fed to the engine, either residually or via remaining fuel routing from the fuel tank. This engine power handicapped the capability of the mechanical brake system. Had the driver been rendered unconscious or temporarily unable to apply mechanical braking after the engine explosion and parachute failure, the vehicle’s deceleration over the next ½ mile would have been minimal.

Insufficient Braking

Despite approx. 1832’ of intermittent tire marks to indicate the functionality of all four brake systems, the vehicle’s speed was reduced slightly over 50% in the last ½ mile of the racetrack. The initial engine explosion and loss of body components, deployment and minimal expansion of the parachute system as well as the vehicle’s suspension system and tire pressure and composition may have contributed to a loss of tire contact, which made braking partially ineffective. Additionally, the clutch system was found to be locked which maintained engine power to the rear wheels.

Insufficient Auxiliary Braking (parachute failure)

The vehicle’s parachute system was deployed (but did not blossom) at the time of the explosion when the rear portion of the vehicle’s fiberglass body separated. Post crash inspection revealed substantial damage to the parachute system. This damage included tearing, burning, and tangling assumed to be caused by the engine explosion, ensuing fire, body separation, and spoilage of air over the remaining vehicle chassis, and high speed ground contact.

Driver Toxicology

Post mortem toxicological analysis of blood obtained from Scott Kalitta during his autopsy revealed the presence of Ethanol at a level of 23 mg/dL. This level converts to a BAC percentage of .02% BAC. This level, 25% of the legal limit for intoxication in the State of New Jersey, remains in violation of NHRA rules (Section 1.7, I., B.1.) as well as N.J.S.A. Title 13 Chapter 62 New Jersey State Motor Vehicle Racetrack Regulations.

Fixed Object Impacts

Upon entering the “run-off” area and impacting the pea gravel, Kalitta’s race vehicle took flight at a speed of approximately 125 MPH. The vehicle sailed over the western retaining wall and its right front tire rubbed the concrete wall before the vehicle impacted the western “catch net” support post. This (8.5" diameter x 7' high) hollow steel post was protected on its northern and southern sides by the concrete barrier by its position within the barrier, but extended above the wall with no attenuation.

After impact with the cargo net support pole, the Kalitta vehicle continued 15' from the pole impact before impacting the cast iron counterbalance portion of an aerial boom lift vehicle, which was in place to position a remote television camera over the centre of the racetrack. As the impact continued, the Kalitta vehicle made multiple impacts with this 23,000 lb. vehicle and its extended boom component.

The New Jersey State Police Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, as the sole agency with responsibility to regulate the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Racetrack Regulations (N.J.S.A. 13:62) has concluded this investigation and has forwarded all reports to the Office of the Middlesex County Prosecutor for review. After this review, further safety recommendations will be discussed between the NJSP, the NHRA, and all three of New Jersey’s licensed 1/4-mile (drag racing) racetracks.


All requests for further information into this matter should be made through The New Jersey State Police Office of Public Information at 609-882-2000.


Click this link below to wach the Nyce1s.com video footage of the crash...

http://nyce1s.com/Race Videos/...h.wmv


Click this link below for the story

http://www.njsp.org/news/pr091708.html


Modified by nyce1 at 1:47 PM 9/18/2008

ReDemoN

Driver Toxicology

Post mortem toxicological analysis of blood obtained from Scott Kalitta during his autopsy revealed the presence of Ethanol at a level of 23 mg/dL. This level converts to a BAC percentage of .02% BAC. This level, 25% of the legal limit for intoxication in the State of New Jersey, remains in violation of NHRA rules (Section 1.7, I., B.1.) as well as N.J.S.A. Title 13 Chapter 62 New Jersey State Motor Vehicle Racetrack Regulations.


DUH!!!!
Ethanol in his system.
Come on.

BIGTUNA

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ReDemoN &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
DUH!!!!
Ethanol in his system.
Come on.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ethanol in blood=Beer

blueshark123

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by BIGTUNA &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Ethanol in blood=Beer</TD></TR></TABLE>

That percentage equates to half a beer....

BIGTUNA

Yup not enough to matter, just some numbers from a pencil pusher.

vtecspeed1320

what Im gathering is he was concious througout the whole thing and trying to stop the car to no avail...damn that really sucks

SpeedDreamz.com

can you guys imagine 200g's?

A train

could they have been able to explain the ethanol issue better it sucks to see them smear his name after he has passed. could he have had some beer the night before and was still in his blood? im not an expert on this stuff but i highly doubt he was drinking the day this happened!

MrParks

you can black out after 8gs so i just hope he past instantly

vtecspeed1320

What fuel do they run? Could the fuel he had in his car make him have a bac of .02?

FRernesto

May he rest in peace. I hope he keeps an eye over us all...

ALL IMPORT

to his family. hopfully his last thoughts were happy 1s

1FSTHATCH

Craziness...Hopefully the toxicology report is explained in depth more. Cant see someone possibly drinking and driving a car of that extent..

RollermanDan

What a shame...

Can you imagine if they ever released the video from the end of the track?

cotorresgee

iTrader: (1)

WOW!!! just to hear things in so much detail!!!! R.I.P.

tony tone

the was a long "shutdown" period for him.

i can only imagine what's going through his mind the whole time trying to stop the car with no success.

SOHCinWA

R.I.P. Scott... When my dad raced with his dad in the 60's & 70's, they never thought about this kind of stuff. My dad has talked to Connie a few weeks ago. very touching phone call he says.

most_hated_crx

R.I.P

95dxsir2

man thats sad.....

streetracer6rpt

thats terrible, couldnt imagine it, dont want 2 either..........
this is the most G-s someone has ever survived....

The British Formula One racer David Purley crashed in 1977, his car going from 173 km/h (107 mph) to 0 in only 66 cm (two feet) (which means he hit a wall and the car structure compressed to decelerate him). He broke many bones, but survived. This deceleration of 178 g is believed to be the highest ever survived by a human

-RedneckDave-

Here is a copy of some text regarding post mortum toxicology that may be of some help.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Alcohol (ethanol)

Where there has been evidence of putrefaction or extensive injury to the body or there is a gap of several days between death and post-mortem, it is advisable to take both blood and urine specimens for alcohol analysis. In certain cases it might also be advisable to take a specimen of vitreous humour. Ethanol can sometimes be lost or generated from blood specimens if they have become contaminated by bacteria or fungi. Use of specimen containers containing 2% fluoride is therefore recommended for alcohol measurement in "sensitive" cases.

If should be noted that some enzymic methods for alcohol analysis commonly used by clinical laboratories may give falsely elevated results in critically ill patients or post-mortem specimens. Analysis for alcohol performed by the Regional Toxicology Laboratory is carried out by gas chromatography, which is more specific than enzymic methods of alcohol analysis and is also able to detect the presence of other alcohols such as methanol and isopropanol, or the products of keto-acidosis such as acetone.
</TD></TR></TABLE>

96 GSR-T

Wow the toxicology report is crazy, maybe he had a cold and drank some nyquil or something like that, or the above mentioned reason....

either way RIP

xtremeracer

RIP.