Accokeek Racing Tragedy Survivor
posted 10:31 pm Fri February 22, 2008 - Accokeek, Md.
Craig Simms nearly lost his life watching an illegal street race. He just underwent his third surgery at University of Maryland shock trauma center in Baltimore.
His body will never fully recover from the crash but right now, his mind is having a hard time grasping what happened.
He remembers how he got to the race, driving with some friends, getting word of it minutes before it happened, "And I automatically know there's gonna be a race tonight, because that's how it's always been." He remembers both races that night. The cars quickly loading up in trailers so as not to tip off police. He remembers watching the race from the grass, not the road. But Simms says that's where his memory gives up.
"I don't remember hearing any cars slam on their brakes, any tires screeching. I don't recall anyone saying get out of the way. Anything. All I remember is laying on the ground, my friend holding me, telling stop moving you can't get up, your leg is busted up - you can't get up."
He doesn't remember the screams, the bodies or the crown victoria that hit him, driven by a 20-year-old Waldorf man whose license was suspended.
"I don't know if he's the one that hit me or not. But if that's the way it happened, then that would be the person that I would hold accountable for eight people," said Simms.
Prince George's County Police interviewed Simms and continue to talk to witnesses. In the meantime, the driver of the crown victoria retained a high profile attorney and has refused multiple requests for an interview. So far, no arrests have been made.
Latest Comment on Accokeek Racing Tragedy Survivor
PeeGee 5-O
6:50 pm on 02/24/08
A tractor trailor was right behind the crown vic and even ran over some bodies. I think that the crowd is lucky the crown vic came through first. If it was the tractor trailor, then there would have been a lot more carnage. Too bad...
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