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Suspect charged in fan injuries at Martinsville

Gary T. Edem has been charged with reckless driving and placed on an unsecured $7,500 bond following an accident involving 22 pedestrians following Sunday’s Goody’s 500 at Martinsville Speedway.

Post-race accident

Post-race accident

Lee Spencer

Chevrolet SSR involved in post-race accident
Race winner Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Carl Edwards, Joe Gibbs Racing Toyota
Race action
Race winner Jimmie Johnson, Hendrick Motorsports Chevrolet
Race action
According to Corinne N. Geller, Public Relations Director for the Virginia State Police (VSP), Edem, 65, of Fairfax, Va., was taken into custody following reports of pedestrians being struck by a car. 
 
The incident occurred outside of Turn 2 in the handicapped parking lot outside of the helicopter pad. Edem, who was driving a 2005 Chevrolet SSR convertible, tried to pass a Jeep Liberty, hit the jeep and then plowed into the pedestrians. Neither the driver of the Jeep, a 73-year-old male from Joplin, Mo. or his 36-year-old male passenger from Bentonville, Ark., were injured in the accident.  
 
Of the 22 pedestrians injured in the accident, 12 were transported to Memorial Hospital in Martinsville, Va. for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. Their ages ranged from 12 to 65-years-of-age. Five were from North Carolina, three from Virginian, two each from Georgia and Ohio. 
 
Five pedestrians were transported to Morehead Memorial Hospital in Eden, N.C., for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. That group included a 40-year-old female from Ararat, Va., and her 15-year-old daughter. Five additional pedestrians were treated for minor injuries at the scene of the accident. 
 
Additional charges are pending against Edem, as the VSP continues its investigation with Henry County Commonwealth’s Attorney Andrew Nester. The VSP’s Salem Division’s Crash Reconstruction Scene assisted with the ongoing investigation.
 
First responders at the Martinsville Speedway scene included the Ridgeway District Volunteer Rescue, Ridgeway District Volunteer Fire, Henry County Sheriff’s Office, City of Martinsville Sheriff’s Office, Henry County Department of Public Safety and VSP.

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