Race Car Driver Kills Cousin: Teen Racer Chase Johnson Loses Control, Crashes into Pit Row During Laps at Marysville Raceway Park, Kills Two

Reports confirm that Chase Johnson, a 17-year-old race car driver, accidently struck and killed two individuals after losing control of his sprint car while running warm-up laps at the Marysville Raceway Park in California on Saturday, March 16. Chase tragically hit his 14-year-old cousin Marcus Johnson as well as 68-year-old Dale Wondergem Jr. as they were watching the warm-up from the track's pit row. The deadly collision took place at approximately 6 p.m. - the raceway was set to host its California Sprint Car Civil War Series season opening day at 7:30 p.m. According to race track announcer Steven Blakesley, Johnson's car had an apparent mechanical failure, which resulted in the violent off-track crash.

Venue promoter Paul Hawes told the Marysville Appeal-Democrat that Johnson's car crashed during warm-up before the race and ran into pit row at high speed. The vehicle, going about 90 miles per hour, ultimately careened up a ramp into the pit area and hit a stack of tires before settling on top of a cement barrier. According to CBS Sacramento, The car then continued on the partition for about 100 feet, hitting a golf cart and striking two people walking in the pits before coming to a stop another 50 feet away. Blakesley told ABC News 10 that Johnson's car had an apparent mechanical failure, which resulted in his not making the corner at turn 1.

The Yuba County Sheriff's Office reports that Wondergem, who owned a car at the track which was not involved in the crash, died at the scene. Johnson's younger cousin Marcus was promptly transported to a local hospital, where he died from his wounds shortly after. The teen driver was uninjured.

Johnson, a senior at Petaluma High School, is a fourth generation race car driver who first competed at age four. According to Johnson's official website, he's taken part in 503 races so far in his career. In the three years that he has been in sprint car racing, the teenager won two Rookie of the Year awards ( he was named last year's season champion at the Petaluma Speedway). According to Petaluma's track announcer Ron Lingron, Johnson's father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were also champion drivers in Petaluma, where the family owns a muffler shop.

"They're the first family of the Petaluma Speedway," Lingron said on Sunday. "There's not a better kid you're going to find in the racing community than Chase Johnson. To have something like this put around his neck is a tragedy."

Following the tragedy, Marysville Raceway Park posted on its official Facebook page:

"Our thoughts and deepest prayers go out to everyone. Out of respect we will not elaborate on details. We ask everyone to respect each other and the families."

The 30 race teams who were set to compete on Saturday night have agreed to donate their combined entrance fees totaling about $10,000 to the families of the victims, Blakesley said.

Thoughts and condolences go out to Johnson and Wondergem's family and friends during this unfortunate time of loss.