Sebuah kecelakaan dilaporkan terjadi pada sesi latihan Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Rider yang dilaporkan kecelakaan mengalami cedera fatal dan diidentifikasi sebagai Carl Sorensen. Dengan adanya kejadian ini, sisa latihan dan kualifikasi sementara dihentikan.
Seperti dilaporkan The Gazette, kecelakaan ini terjadi sekitar pukul 9.00 pagi hari waktu setempat dan terjadi di antara Devil’s Playground dan bagian atas trek. Pada saat itu, para rider memang berkumpul untuk melakukan latihan bareng. Namun sesampainya di garis finish, mereka menyadari ada satu orang yang tertinggal.
Rider ini merupakan korban keenam yang terluka parah sehingga meninggal dalam sejarah Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Terakhir kejadian pada 2014, rider Bobby Goodin meninggal saat balap dan kecelakaan fatal sebelumnya pada 2005.
Rest in peace, Carl! (otorider.com)
Berikut petikan pernyataan bersama keluarga dan jajaran direksi Pikes Peak International Hill Climb :
June 25, 2015
The collective hearts of the Colorado Springs community and the Board of Directors of The Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, share the grief and pain of Carl Sorensen's family, friends and fans over his untimely death.
Throughout the 92 years that this unique race has been conducted on America's Mountain, we have experienced the ultimate joy in triumph, the disappointment of failure and now, the unexpected heartbreak of the loss of a competitor, whose love of the race brought him to Pikes Peak. We mourn the tragic death of Carlton and he will be in all of our hearts this Sunday for the 93rd Race to the Clouds.
He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend with a tremendous sense of humor and a passion for racing.
He left our lives while doing something that he loved, and it is the only thing that has the ability to deal with the reality of life, the acceptance of the competitors of the dangers in the race, and the heart and soul of a great man.
With our deepest condolences,
The Family of Carl Sorensen and Board of Directors of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb.