WERDdabuilder
03-10-2008, 02:47 PM
Tarzana --
An investigation was under way today into the death of 22-year-old man killed when he crashed a soapbox racer into a parked vehicle during an unsanctioned competition in Tarzana.
Michael Joseph Garcia of Sun Valley was coasting down a hill in the 5400 block of North Reseda Boulevard about 7:40 a.m. yesterday when he crashed into a parked Lexus sport utility vehicle, said Los Angeles police Detective William Bustos of the Valley Traffic Division.
Garcia was declared dead at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center.
The race included 36 contestants, Bustos said.
The favored stretch of Reseda Boulevard has a milelong descent that enables soapbox racers to hit speeds of 40-60 mph, he said.
Although it is apparently legal to race a cart without an engine down a public street, the organizers could be cited for a misdemeanor, because there were so many racers that they may have needed an event permit, said LAPD spokeswoman Ana Aguirre.
No one was arrested.
Many of the soapbox carts do not have roll bars or other safety equipment.
Garcia was wearing a helmet, but it was unclear whether it was properly secured because it flew off upon impact, Bustos said.
same people that run San Fernando Valley illegal Soapbox Federation.
damn, shit sucks. now squidd and i have to put some airbags in our soaps!
An investigation was under way today into the death of 22-year-old man killed when he crashed a soapbox racer into a parked vehicle during an unsanctioned competition in Tarzana.
Michael Joseph Garcia of Sun Valley was coasting down a hill in the 5400 block of North Reseda Boulevard about 7:40 a.m. yesterday when he crashed into a parked Lexus sport utility vehicle, said Los Angeles police Detective William Bustos of the Valley Traffic Division.
Garcia was declared dead at Encino-Tarzana Regional Medical Center.
The race included 36 contestants, Bustos said.
The favored stretch of Reseda Boulevard has a milelong descent that enables soapbox racers to hit speeds of 40-60 mph, he said.
Although it is apparently legal to race a cart without an engine down a public street, the organizers could be cited for a misdemeanor, because there were so many racers that they may have needed an event permit, said LAPD spokeswoman Ana Aguirre.
No one was arrested.
Many of the soapbox carts do not have roll bars or other safety equipment.
Garcia was wearing a helmet, but it was unclear whether it was properly secured because it flew off upon impact, Bustos said.
same people that run San Fernando Valley illegal Soapbox Federation.
damn, shit sucks. now squidd and i have to put some airbags in our soaps!