LOS ANGELES — A federal agency suspended future event permits yesterday for the promoter of last weekend’s off-road race in the California desert where eight spectators were killed by a racing truck.
The Bureau of Land Management, which is in charge of the territory where the crash occurred, said the suspension of permits for Mojave Desert Racing will remain in effect while an investigation of the accident is underway.
A call and e-mail message to Susan and James Williams, the couple who operate MDR Productions from their South El Monte home, were not returned.
The spectators were killed Saturday during a 200-mile race in the Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles. Ten were hurt.
Video of the accident showed spectators crowding the edge of the narrow dirt course as trucks sped by and not 100 feet back as MDR rules require.
One truck went out of control, slammed into the crowd, and overturned.
Documents provided by the Bureau of Land Management, which issued permits for the race, show that spectator safety was the responsibility of MDR.
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