The official killed in a horror crash at a Texas dirt track race over the weekend has been named as retired firefighter Billy Hurt.
Hurt, who served as a Sprint Car safety official for more than 23 years and a Columbia firefighter for over 25, was responding to an accident at a World of Outlaws event on Saturday when he was involved in the fatal collision.
According to multiple social media reports, two emergency vehicles crashed as they tried to come to the aid of driver Marcus Thomas, who had flipped his car at Kennedale Speedway Park, just outside of Fort Worth.
After the collision, which reportedly ejected both drivers from the all-terrain vehicles they were driving, Hurt died at the scene.
Safety Official Jerry Myers, the other driver involved, is in stable condition while recovering from his injuries.
Saturday’s race was canceled after the tragic incident.
‘Beyond his professionalism, Billy exemplified what it meant to be a good person, always putting others before himself,’ said Brian Carter, World Racing Group CEO.
Retired firefighter Billy Hunt was killed in a horror crash at a Texas dirt track race on Saturday
Hunt, who served as a Sprint Car safety official for more than 23 years, was working at a World of Outlaws event (pictured) when the fatal collision occurred
He previously spent over 25 years as a Columbia firefighter while working as a racing official
‘He dedicated his life to ensuring the safety of every racer, making their well-being his main priority. And beyond the track, his kindness shone further with every interaction, quickly becoming a friendly face to everyone he met.
‘The entire World Racing Group family is deeply saddened by his loss.’
‘Of those who dedicate their lives to safety efforts at dirt tracks across the country, there were few as committed as Billy Hurt,’ the World of Outlaws racing series said in its statement announcing Hurt’s devastating passing.
Other tributes from the racing community poured in for Hurt, including from Sprint Car driver Brian Brown.
‘So many times the spotlight is on the drivers, but the truth is none of us do what we do without the brave men and women standing on the other side of the wall. They put their lives on the line every single night to be there for us in the worst moments, making sure we have a chance to walk away and race another day,’ Brown said on social media.
‘Billy can never be replaced, and he will be missed more than words can say. Thank you, Billy, for everything you gave to this sport and for the knowledge you passed along to so many.’
During his other esteemed career, Hurt taught a number of firefighters across the State of Missouri as an extrication expert.
Columbia Professional Firefighters’ President Zack Privette said: ‘Billy was proud to be a public servant. He enjoyed his job. He always came to work with a smile on his face. He was never down and out. He showed up. He did his job and he was really good at it. He did it with an attitude that people wanted to work with him.’
