Nascar racing fan killed by lightning

LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 05: Crew members push the #14 Office Depot Back to School Chevrolet, driven by Tony Stewart, back to the garage as rain falls during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway on August 5, 2012 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/AFP

LONG POND, PA - AUGUST 05: Crew members push the #14 Office Depot Back to School Chevrolet, driven by Tony Stewart, back to the garage as rain falls during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Pennsylvania 400 at Pocono Raceway on August 5, 2012 in Long Pond, Pennsylvania. Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images/AFP

Published Aug 7, 2012

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One spectator was killed and several others injured by lightning strikes at a Nascar Sprint Cup Series meeting at the weekend.

Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen identified the deceased as 41-year-old Brian Zimmerman, of Moosic, Pennsylvania.

Officials said the nine other people injured in two separate lightning strikes at Sunday's races were transferred to hospital.

One spectator was transported to Lehigh Hospital in Allentown and was upgraded to stable on Monday.

Officials from the Pocono Raceway said the track was under a severe thunderstorm watch for most of race day on Sunday before a warning was issued for the area shortly after 4pm local time.

Nascar officials stopped the race and called it after 98 of the scheduled 160 laps were completed.

Jeff Gordon was leading when the meeting was abandoned and was awarded the victory. - AFP

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