UPDATE: NASCAR contractor was electrocuted, autopsy finds; family still ‘waiting for answers’
A 53-year-old Tennessee man died after suffering a medical emergency while working in a locked area charged with electricity at the NASCAR Chicago Street Race site Friday morning.
The incident occurred about 11:30 a.m. in the 500 block of South Columbus Drive, according to Chicago police.
Duane Earl Tabinski was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office said.
“On Friday afternoon, a contractor suffered a fatal medical emergency,” NASCAR said in a statement. “We are coordinating with local authorities on this tragic incident. We share our condolences to the family and their loved ones.”
A witness told police he was carrying wood to help set up the event when he heard Tabinski, of Hermitage, Tennessee, groan, according to a police report. When the witness checked on Tabinski, he spotted him “slumped over,” and was about to render aid when another worker stopped him because Tabinski was in a “padlock” area, with a high voltage of electricity circulating.
After the electricity was “diffused,” paramedics were able to treat him and take him by ambulance to the hospital.
Tabinski was hired by Nascar to set up audio for the pre-race celebrations, according to the report.
An autopsy was scheduled for later Saturday, officials said.
No other information was immediately available.
