Officials: NASCAR fans warned of lightning, rain

LONG POND, Pa. — NASCAR fans at Pocono Raceway were advised over public address systems and through social media to take cover when lightning and heavy rain hit the track near the end of the race.

But the warnings weren’t enough to avoid tragedy on Sunday. Racetrack officials say lightning strikes after a rain-shortened NASCAR race killed one fan and injured nine others, one critically.

Pocono spokesman Bob Pleban says officials are reviewing the logs of when the announcements were made. There was no order to evacuate the track premises.

Monroe County Coroner Bob Allen says the man who died was in or near his car in a parking lot after the race had ended when lightning struck the car. Bystanders performed CPR until paramedics arrived. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.