The family of a man who lost his life during a mud bog race in Texas has initiated a $60 million lawsuit, alleging that inadequate security measures led to the fatal incident. The trial is scheduled to commence on Monday in El Paso County, concerning the death of William Valadez Ramirez, who was killed on June 14, 2021, near Fabens, south of El Paso. The lawsuit also includes three other individuals who were injured during the incident, including two educators and a minor.
The incident occurred when a dragster lost control and crashed into a crowd of spectators. The family of the deceased, Ramirez, alleges that the security at the event failed to maintain safe conditions, leading to the tragedy. Francisco Valadez Jr., Ramirez’s brother, expressed his grief over the loss, stating that his life has not been the same since the incident.
The family’s legal representative, Kevin Glasheen, criticized the event as poorly organized and claimed that the security measures were insufficient. According to Glasheen, spectators were allowed into a safety setback zone, which should have been off-limits. A pipe fence was the only barrier between the crowd and the racetrack, but spectators were supposed to be kept about 20 feet away from the railing, a rule that security allegedly failed to enforce.
Court documents reveal that the defendants have placed the blame on the driver for losing control and the spectators for disregarding warnings. Glasheen, however, argues that the security company was aware of the inadequate barricades and should have questioned the absence of concrete barriers to protect the crowd. He further stated that a security company should not accept a job that involves responsibility for spectator safety if they know the spectators are not going to be safe.
The lawsuit initially named the event promoter as a defendant, but this was later withdrawn after it was discovered that the promoter had no assets. Rock Solid Protection Security, the security company in question, has not yet responded to requests for comment.