Family and friends of a track official for Bakersfield Speedway are mourning his death after a freak accident Saturday night at a racing event.
A silence fell over the clay track in Oildale when 54-year-old Steven O'neil was critically injured after he was hit by an American Stock car during a race.
According to the Bakersfield Californian, O'neil was standing along the inside crash wall when the race car crashed into it and hit him.
The car's left side tires went over the rail.
O'neil was taken to Kern Medical Center where he died just before 11 p.m. Saturday night.
One driver who was at the race said the crash was unlike anything he's seen before.
"Yeah, it doesn't happen very much. I mean, that wall is there for a reason and it's there to protect everything that's on the inside of that," said Andy Obertello, witness.
"From cars getting in there sometimes, cars get out of shape or they lose control and that's why the walls are there to protect anyone, photographers, officials or anybody in there."
Bakersfield Speedway offered its condolences to the O'neil family with a statement on its website that says "There are no words to express how deeply saddened we are with the loss of one of our own..."
The owners of the track go on to say "...Steve's presence each and every Saturday night brought joy to the entire speedway team. He will be greatly missed."
Those who worked with O'neil say he was an official there for several years and was a big part of the speedway family.