Wrestler Hulk Hogan's teenage son Nick was racing another car moments
before he lost control of his own vehicle and crashed into a tree,
according to a witness.
Frances Vitalis, who was riding a motorcycle with a friend behind the
two cars, claims the drivers were revving their engines and racing between
each set of traffic lights on the road in Clearwater, Florida on Sunday
(26Aug07) night.
Vitalis says, "We knew something was going to happen. You know
that this is a bad situation and these guys are hotdogging."
According to website TMZ, police officers have interviewed the driver
of a silver Dodge Viper that may have been involved in the accident.
Local law enforcement officials have so far only confirmed Hogan's son
Nick Bollea was driving a Toyota Supra at high speed when he lost control
and struck a palm tree.
Bollea and his friend John Graziano were flown by Medivac helicopters
to a hospital in St Petersburg. Bollea has since been discharged after
being treated for minor injuries, but Graziano remains in a critical
condition.
Bollea has been caught speeding three times in the 12 months before
Sunday's accident.