Texas authorities have confirmed that a major racing team’s hauler was involved in a fatal crash on Tuesday morning while the vehicle was en route to a weekend racing event.
The crash occurred around 4:25 a.m. on I-20, about half a mile west of Longview, Texas.
Authorities say that David Gilliland Racing’s No. 17 ARCA team transporter was westbound on I-20 when hauler driver Steven Stotts, 54, “failed to control its speed” and struck a small box trailer being hauled by a westbound Honda Passport.
The impact caused the Honda to roll onto its side in the center median and sent the box trailer into the eastbound lanes of I-20.
The DGR hauler also rolled into the center median and caught fire.
Here are the results of the Texas Highway Patrol preliminary investigation. The accident occurred at 4:25am CT on I-20 about a half-mile west of Longview, Texas. Unit 1 was a Honda Passport towing a small box trailer. Unit 2 is the DGR hauler. pic.twitter.com/bpaRGOKjuW
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 8, 2022
Stotts was pronounced dead at the scene.
Sad news from Texas Highway Patrol. DGR hauler driver Steven Stotts was pronounced dead at the scene. Passengers John Zaverl and Michael Mizzelle are in stable condition. Driver of the other vehicle involved is in stable condition. They were taking ARCA car to Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/0fRn9xmtGD
— Bob Pockrass (@bobpockrass) March 8, 2022
Two passengers in the DGR hauler, John P. Zaverl, 38, and Michael Mizzelle, 45, were taken to the hospital and are listed in stable condition.
The Honda driver, 63 year old Young Mo Kang, was also hospitalized and is also in stable condition.
The hauler was en route to Arizona for the ARCA Menards Series Friday night event at Phoenix Raceway.
“DGR and driver Taylor Gray’s participation in Friday’s event will be determined at a later time,” the team said via Twitter.