Chattanooga Police Officer Joe Warren leaves the line during a practice run at the Brainerd Optimist Dragstrip in 2010.
John “Johnny” Earl “Norm” Walker, 53, of Chattanooga, passed away Sunday. Johnny was a huge race fan – he loved both NASCAR and Drag Racing. He was also a big fan of the Washington Redskins and the Georgia Bulldogs. He was currently employed at Fleet Pride and was a part time staff member of the Brainerd Optimist Club.A 22-year-old female drag-race driver likely won’t be charged after running over a man at a race track near Ringgold, Ga.
The Brainerd Optimist Drag Strip was hosting a charity toy ride Saturday night when Hillary Mason revved up her engine to start a race, but police and friends said she instead backed into 53-year-old Johnny Walker, slamming him onto the pavement and running over him.
Walker, who had worked at the track for 18 years, died a day later at a local hospital after his family decided to take him off life support, friends said.
Police said Mason had left the rail car in reverse and was going very fast when she struck Walker. But Catoosa County Maj. Gary Sisk said authorities likely will rule Walker’s death an accident based on the evidence.
Walker was hit around 8 p.m. and rushed to Erlanger hospital, a police report states. When police arrived, Mason already had left the track, but her father later called and said they were at the sheriff’s office to talk about the wreck.