Mediaboss Marketing

September 02, 2012

Pocono Raceway officials continue to remain mum on the particulars of an investigation into the track's emergency procedures after a lightning strike killed a fan in early August.

Track spokesman Bob Pleban said only that the investigation is "an ongoing process" and that the track had no update to share on the time line of events that happened during and after the Pennsylvania 400.

On Aug. 5, Brian Zimmerman, 41, of Moosic, was in the parking lot of the raceway in Long Pond when a thunderstorm rolled in, causing the race to be delayed and later canceled.

The National Weather Service advised the thunderstorm likely would include multiple lightning strikes. The track saw many of those strikes, including one that hit in the parking lot behind the grandstand section of bleachers.

The lightning strike was strong enough to injure nine people and to kill Zimmerman. He was given medical attention at the track, but could not be revived and was pronounced dead at Pocono Medical Center about an hour after the incident.

At a press conference less than 24 hours later, Pocono Raceway President and CEO Brandon Igdalsky said track officials had begun an investigation into whether anything could have been done differently to prevent the death.

Igdalsky didn't lay out any details then, and continues not to make any of the investigation public almost a month later.

Igdalsky said the track would immediately establish a memorial fund for the victims of the lightning strike.

Pleban said the amount raised for the fund would not be known "for some time."

Read more from the original source:
No word on progress of Pocono Raceway investigation