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closeNHRA crew member burned in accident remains critical
Reading Eagle, Pa.
Saturday, Aug. 16, 2008
The crew member of a drag racing team who was burned in a fire in a concession area at Pennsylvania's Maple Grove Raceway remained in critical condition Friday in a regional burn center, officials said.
Michael Knudsen, 27, of Indianapolis suffered first- and second-degree burns on his hands, legs and face Thursday about 8 a.m. when a propane gas tank caught fire near the entry gate to the track during preparations for the Toyo Tires NHRA Nationals, race officials said.
Knudsen, a clutch technician on the Mopar/Oakley Dodge Charger R/T Funny Car, was taken by helicopter to the burn center at Lehigh Valley Hospital near Allentown.
A worker for propane company AmeriGas, whose name was unavailable, also suffered burns, track officials said. He was taken to Reading Hospital. Officials did not release his name, and information about his medical condition was unavailable.
Track officials provided this account based on a conversation with Knudsen in the hospital:
Knudsen and a teammate were moving a temporary food stand's propane tanks because they had been set up where they would have interfered with a sliding gate.
As they worked, someone pushed the gate, toppling the row of three interconnected tanks. Two began to leak.
The gas company worker turn ed off the first, and Knudsen tried to turn off the second.
The leaking gas caught fire for an unknown reason, burning Knudsen.
A track safety crew extinguished the fire. Paramedics tended to the injured men.
The accident occurred as crews set up for the NHRA Nationals, which began Friday and continue through Sunday at the Brecknock Township racing facility.