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UPDATE: SPEEDVEGAS reopens after deadly crash

Posted at 1:53 PM, Feb 12, 2017
and last updated 2017-02-23 21:43:00-05

UPDATE FEB. 23: SPEEDVEGAS is now open, following the deadly crash earlier this month. It reopened at 10 a.m. Thursday.

A statement released from SPEEDVEGAS:

SPEEDVEGAS voluntarily closed following the Feb. 12 accident. Since that date, examination of SPEEDVEGAS’ operations practices, safety policies, staff training, track conditions and vehicle conditions all indicate the attraction is fit to reopen and welcome guests. As of today, the track will resume its regular schedule, opening daily at 10 a.m.
 
A ceremony to honor the late Gil Ben-Kely will be announced at a later date.

UPDATE FEB. 18: The Clark County Coroner identified the driver of the Lamborghini as 37-year-old Craig Sherwood from Thornhill, Canada. Officials say he died from thermal injuries.

UPDATE FEB. 16: SPEEDVEGAS will reopen next week following last weekend's crash. The date has not yet been announced.

UPDATE FEB. 13: Family and friends identified one of the victims as Gil Ben-Kely. Ben-Kely was the instructor in the passenger seat when the crash happened.

Ben-Kely served in the Israeli military before moving to Italy where he met his wife and raced Ferraris. They eventually moved to the United States. He was a instructor at SPEEDVEGAS when the driver of the Lamborghini hit a wall, killing them both.

"He had everything ahead of him," says friend Bob Torti.  

Ben-Kely was a two-time survivor of breast cancer, beating the odds. He even participated in a musical called the "Bright Side" about a man diagnosed with cancer.

Ben-Kely, who lived in Henderson, is survived by a wife, son and daughter.

OSHA is still investigating the crash. The identity of the customer driving the car hasn't been released.

5:30 P.M. UPDATE: Officials released more information about Sunday's crash at SPEEDVEGAS.

A 36-year-old client was driving a white Lamborghini with an instructor in his late 50s in the passenger seat. The client lost control of the vehicle, causing it to slam into a wall and burst into flames.

It is unknown what caused the vehicle to lose control.

Aaron Fessler, co-founder and chief executive officer of SPEEDVEGAS, released the following statement:

Today, an accident on the track resulted in the deaths of a SPEEDVEGAS employee and a customer. We are fully cooperating with investigators at this time. We are devastated by this tragic event and extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families and to our SPEEDVEGAS team members who have lost a beloved colleague.

3:30 P.M. UPDATE: Police say that two people died in the fiery crash. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration will investigate the incident since it took place on private property.

ORIGINAL STORY

LAS VEGAS (KTNV) -- Firefighters are responding to reports of a car fire in the 14200 block of South Las Vegas Boulevard.

Reports came in around 1:30 p.m. Sunday. No further information is available at this time.

13 Action News is sending a crew to the scene. More information to come.