Officials Investigating Fatal Crash at Drag Strip

Authorities are investigating whether human or mechanical error caused a weekend crash that killed a Covina man learning to drag-race at the Pomona Raceway, police said.

Robert Camacho, 28, a student at the Frank Hawley Drag Racing School, was making a solo run when the accident occurred about 9:30 a.m. Saturday at the track, located on the Los Angeles County Fairgrounds, Pomona police said.

Camacho traveled the eighth-of-a-mile to the finish line but his car failed to stop, traveling half a mile more before careening left, rolling over and hitting a side wall, said Sid Robinson, a spokesman for the county fairgrounds.

Camacho suffered severe head injuries and died several hours after being taken to Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center.

Robinson said Camacho did not appear to brake, deploy the parachute or cut the engine to stop the vehicle. The car was equipped so that it could not exceed a speed of 100 mph, he said.

The accident was captured on video by an onlooker. Officials at the drag school, owned by former national “funny car” champion Frank Hawley, declined to comment.