Ohio demolition derby crash leads to hospital trip and a lifetime ban

Demolition derbies are all about the destruction, but a crash in Ohio resulted in one driver being airlifted to the hospital as well as a lifetime ban for the other driver involved.

The crash happened at the Fayette County Fairgrounds, roughly halfway between Cincinnati and Columbus, on Saturday, July 25. The Washington Court House Record Herald reports that driver Hunter Wolf of Lynchburg, Ohio, delivered a direct hit to the driver-side door of a competitor, causing serious injuries to that driver.

Emergency crews extricated the victim from his vehicle and established a landing zone at the fairgrounds for a medical helicopter due to the severity of the driver's injuries. The Record Herald reports that the victim has not been identified and the extent of the injuries are not known.

Ohio driver banned by demolition derby organizers after crash causes injuries

Derbydog Inc., which organized the demolition derby, issued a lifetime ban to Wolf on Monday, July 27, according to a statement posted to Facebook by owners Jeremy and Frances Hejduk.

"While we can't absolutely know the intentions of every driver, the obvious nature of the direct driver's door hit by Hunter Wolf proves he has absolutely no concern for safety for fellow drivers," the Hejduks said in the statement. "This type of behavior will not be tolerated by Derbydog."

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Other demolition derby organizers are joining in the ban.

Head-On Derby Promotions, which operates in western New York and northeast Pennsylvania, stated in a July 27 Facebook post : "Although we highly doubt he would ever reach one of our shows, he has been spotted commenting on posts saying he will find one to run. ... W[e] will also jump on board with this as many other promoters are doing so in hopes he is banned nationwide."

Likewise, the New Alexandria Lions Club, which organizes a demo derby in its eastern Ohio village near the West Virginia border, also announced a ban on Wolf via Facebook . "This decision has been made in the interest of maintaining a safe environment for our drivers, officials, crew members, volunteers, spectators, and all others involved with our events."

Similar announcements came from Twisted Metal Motorsports , which has events scheduled in Kentucky and Indiana, and Smash It Demolition Derby , operating in Ohio and Indiana.

"Demolition derby is a contact sport, and hard hits are part of the competition. However, there is a clear difference between aggressive competition and actions that unnecessarily place another competitor at risk," Twisted Metal said in its statement. "We expect every driver who competes at our events to exercise good judgment and demonstrate respect for the safety of everyone on the track."

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Ohio demolition derby crash leads to hospital trip and a lifetime ban

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