Primm: Erick Morales - fatality at event

Co-rider in SCORE Desert Race fatally injured during race accident Saturday

PRIMM, Nev.--Erick Morales, 33, of Ensenada, Mexico, was fatally injured when the race vehicle he was riding in crashed during the start of Saturday's SCORE Terrible's Primm 300 desert race in Primm, Nev.

Morales was the co-rider in the unlimited Class 1 Chevy-powered HMS open-wheel desert race car driven by Eddy Gonzalez of Chula Vista, Calif.

During the early afternoon start of the second portion of the desert race, which is part of the Los Angeles-based SCORE International desert racing series, the No. 115 race car came down hard in a bumpy section entering the first turn after the start, rolling end over end several times.

SCORE Medical personnel were on the accident immediately and provided CPR for 20 minutes until a trauma physician at the University of Medical Center in Las Vegas pronounced Mr. Morales dead at the scene.

Gonzalez, who complained of lower back pain, was transported to UMC and later released.

"This is an extremely unfortunate incident and our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of Mr. Morales," said Sal Fish, President of the Los Angeles-based SCORE International desert racing organization.

A total of 182 cars and trucks are competing the Round 5 of the six-race 2007 SCORE Desert Series.

-credit: score