ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Family and friends are mourning the loss of a 36-year-old driving instructor, who was killed Sunday in a crash at the Exotic Driving Experience at Walt Disney World Speedway.
Several memories of Gary Terry, 36, have been posted on friends and family members' social media accounts.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Tavon Watson, 24, of Kissimmee, was driving Terry in a Lamborghini during an automotive experience at 3:30 p.m.
While trying to maneuver through the course, Watson lost control of the car, causing it to leave the racetrack and strike a guardrail. Troopers said Watson was driving around 100 mph when he lost control.
"We lost a long-time, valued team member of the Exotic Driving Experience family," a company spokesperson said in a statement to WFTV.
Terry died at the scene, while Watson was transported to Celebration Hospital with minor injuries, FHP said.
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Several unanswered questions are now at the center of FHP's investigation. Troopers told Channel 9 they're looking into whether the track's guardrails are designed for counter-clockwise driving. The Lamborghini was traveling clockwise.
The Exotic Driving Experience, which allows guests to drive high-end sports cars, sits on Disney property near World Drive and Floridian Way.
"It's kind of scary to think accidents do happen even though they are rides and there are precautions," said visitor Autumn Stevenson.
Troopers said both drivers were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash. Terry was believed to have tried to take control of the Lamborghini before the collision.
"The instructor tries to help straighten the car out as the car is spinning and rotating," said Sgt. Kim Montes, with FHP.
The cars don't have a five-point harness to restrain drivers, like many racing cars, and no special head restraint like those in NASCAR vehicles.
"We're doing a death investigation to just document exactly what happened," Montes said.
Officials said the attraction will be closed Monday and Tuesday.
According to the spokesperson, the last day of operations at the speedway is scheduled for Aug. 9, and the closing of the attraction is not a result of Sunday's crash.
WFTV
