Imperial Valley press., 1933-03-06
RACING DRIVER
BADLY INJURED
IN FAIR CRASH
Otto Wolfer Has Miraculous
Escape From Death When
Group OF. Cars Collide.
OTHEIlS SERIOUSLY HURT
Harris Insinger, Another Rtcer,
And Randall Conner, Member
OF Band, In LEGAL Hospital.

Otto WOifer, injured in the
race at the fair grounds yes
terday, has fractured spine,
cCncusSiOn of the brain, and
possible internal injuries, his
attending physician reported
this noon, but is making excel
lent progress and il is believed
he will recover. The internal
injuries are not considered TO
be serious.
Randall Conner is reported
resting comfortably, with infec-
ton of the cut in his left leg
the only real danger. Harry In
singer, least, injured Of the
three has disl0cated knee.
While 5000 spectators gasped in
the grand stand and bleachers
three tiny racing cars speeding
into the front stretch at the start
of the second race at the fail
grounds yesterday afternoon crash
ed in two separate accidents one
Of which sent the drive hurtliAg IS
yards through the air into the
judges stand Is feet above the
ground.
Contrary to reports prevalent in
Ell Centre last night and published
throughout California, no one was
killed. Two drivers and one 15-
year-old youth are confined to a
local hospital with serious injuries
Otto Wolfer, driver of car No. 73
who was catapulted through the
aid and landed between two Off
cials in the judges stand, suffer
ed a seriously injured back and
possible internal injuries, but hos
pital Attendants said this morning
his condition is vastly improved.
Harris Insinger, another driver
suffered a dislocated knee ano
possible internal injuries when his
car overturend in the middle OF
the track. Harry Gentry, a thiro
driver, left the hospital after re-
ceiving emergency treatment yes
terday afternoon for back injuries
Randall Conner, Is, son of DR.
c. S. Conner of El Centro, is in the
hospital receiving treatment fol
one broken leg and a severe gasf
on the ankle of his other leg. He
was caught on the railing wher
Wolfers car crashed into it. Ran
dali is a member of the Ell Centre
band. Jack Gregg, II, another bano
was slightly injured about
the legs, but did not require treat
ment.
Wolfer enjoys the distinction OF
being one of the few men whose
death was prematurely reported in
newspapers of wide circulation
through a confusion of facts fol-
lowing the accident and widely cur
rent false rumors in Ell Centro and
the rest of Imperial Valley. That
he lived to tell the story after his
accident seemed to spectators al
most a miracle.
Came at Start
The accident came at the start
of the second and last race of the
days program. Cars had lined UP
for the start Of the consolation
race. One lap around the track
failed to find them in the proper
order, and the slater called again
for another start. The machines
roared around the track again
coming into the front stretch
ready for the start. Again the star
ter was not satisfied, and indicated
that the drivers should try again
He still held his flag at its hori-
zontal position when Insinger's car
crashed into that of Gentry. The
events following were almost toe
fast for the eye to record.
Insinger's car, after throwing the
driver clear, turned over several
times. Almost in the same instant
Wolfer must have glanced back,
losing control of his machine. 1t
crashed into the inside railing,
where the Conner boy was sitting.
Coroner A. r. Underwood, on the
railing at the same place, escaped
injury by falling backwards. Wolf
er's body was thrown through the
air in a great arc. For 35-yards 1t
scared, somersaulting Just once
and Wolfer went into the judges
stand feet first.
The grand stand was thrown
into confuion. Women screamed. In
the pit attendants rushed into ac-
tivity. Within five minutes the in