Imperial Valley press., 1934-03-05
Three Killed
in Races at
County air
Ernie Triplett, 'Swede' Smith And Hap
Hafley Victims Of Tragic Smash-Up On
Track At Imperial Sunday.

"Erna Ernie Triplett, C. l.. Hap
Hafley and George 'Swede' Smith,
came to their deaths as the result
of an automobile accident of the
fair grounds race track at Imperial,
California, resulting from an unav-
oidable collision of several cars
This was the verdict brought in
by coroner's jury this morning at
Lemons undertaking parlorS inves-
tigating the tragedy which occurred
at the county fair grounds yesterday
afternoon when the checkered flag
was waved for the last time for
three race car drivers, well-kncwn
in rational racing circles.
VIM. D. Rogers, 1850 Lockwood
street, Los Angeles, was the first
witness called and in his testimony
he gave complete and accurate
description of the fatal smashup
which cost the lives of these three
mon.
Rogers stated that shortly before
the 21st lap of the SPECIAL 50-lap,
Glass A event in which the acci-
dent happened, Car No. 81, piloted
by Jimmie WilkerSon, stalled on the
north curve. At this point, the wit
ness said, there was a soft, muddy
spot from which the water had fail
cd to drain and it had been mark
cd with red flags.
Wilkerson ana members OF his
tow car crew pushed the stalled car
along the inside of the track as il
was impossible at that poin. to get
it up into the infield owing to the
lowncSs of the track. When the car
had been pushed almost to the last
curve before ccmnig into the home
stretch, car No. 81, driven by George
"Swede' Smith, evidently thinking
that the other car had been taken
from the track completely, and try
ing TO make the curve, slipped the
stalled car slid, and turned over al
most in the center of the track.
No other cars coming along i'm
mediately, Rogers, Hafley and sew
cral others ran out onto the track
in order to aid Smith who was lying
under his overturned car and was
crying for help.
Triplett Thrown From Car
1t was at this point that Al Cor
don and Triplett, who had been
leading the race throughout and
had picked up full lap on nearly
all their competitors, drove out Of
the cloud of dust hanging over the
northwest turn of the track and
bore down on the wrecked car and
the men who we're standing near
by.
Gordon, in the lead, slowed down
somewhat in order to avoid striking
the men and Triplett, Immediately
behind Gordon. tried to swerve to
the right of the track. In doing SO
he hit Hafley and also struck
Smiths car. This tore two wheels
from his car, caused him to lose
control of it and strike Gordon's
Car.
The force of the impact was so
great that Triplett was torn from
his car, thrown through the air for
some 20 feet and fell with a sicken-
ing thud along the side of the track
near the corrals erected for the ro-
deo to be held in connection with
the fair.
Gordon's car, thrown out of con-
troll when hit by Triplett's crashed
into the corral fence. Gordon suf-
tered slight shock. some minor
bruises and bloody nose but out
side of that was uninjured.
Meanwhile at the wreck of Smiths
car, Smith, whose body was lying
free of the wreck on the track was
struck by Kelly Patillo, driving car
No. S. The latter however, did not
turn over.
In his evidence. Rogers stated
that there we're no flagmen on the
curves of the race track although
some should hav ebeen there. He
himself. stated that he knew better
than to run onto the track as such
procedure is against the AA.A.