ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A Florida Highway Patrol report released last week shows that the decision to run cars in the wrong direction on the Walt Disney World Speedway might have been a factor in a fatal crash on the tracks in April.
On Wednesday, Channel 9 obtained audio of the interview between investigators and Tavon Watson, the 24-year-old who was behind the wheel when he crashed at the Richard Petty Driving Experience track, killing instructor Gary Terry in April.
During the recorded interview, Watson told a Florida Highway Patrol investigator Terry grabbed the wheel just after he lost control of the vehicle.
"My adrenaline was pumping so much from driving the car, not even from the accident, but just from driving experience itself," Watson said.
Terry, 36, was killed when Watson lost control of a Lamborghini and crashed into the end of a guardrail.
Raw: FHP interview with Tavon Watson
Photos: Man killed in crash at Disney race attraction
Raw: Fatal crash scene at Exotic Driving Experience
Investigators said the sports car, which was going about 100 mph, wouldn’t have been exposed to the guardrail’s end if the cars at the Exotic Driving Experience were run counterclockwise.
In the audio recording, Watson breaks down, saying he thought Terry was alive shortly after the crash.
"I was asking if he was OK and at that moment, I was in shock," Watson said. "I didn't believe things were happening this way and right away I just began to call out God's name."
An FHP investigation found the car wouldn't have been exposed to the end of the guardrails had the car been traveling counter clockwise, the direction the track was designed.
"I looked over by that time and seen that the guardrail was lodged inside the right door, the passenger door," Watson said.
Investigators said there were no mechanical problems that led to the crash. Terry's death was ruled an accident.
Watson told FHP investigators students weren't given a reason why the cars were driven the wrong way other than "it was better." He also said he never remembered being told how to recover if he lost control of the car.
FHP said the investigation is over, and Watson will not face charges.
Terry worked for the Richard Petty Driving Experience for more than 15 years.
WFTV
