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I'm working on a story about this whole debate now. I haven't posted the accident video yet on my news site for a variety of reasons, but I would lean towards it if I felt it necessary for several reasons:
- It's newsworthy: people from around the world are interested in this story, and many articles have been written describing the wreck. Plus, there's been a lot of debate online about whether David Gravel should have been on the track with a motor going, or his actions once it did blow. People should be able to see it for themselves to make their own choice.
- It's not graphic: If there was footage of Travis after the wreck being attended to by the emergency technicians, or if the crash video focused on Travis, that would be a different story. But in this case, you really can't see the car until after the wreck happens (the video focuses on someone who was not injured).
- It's reminder that sprint car racing is dangerous: It's easy for fans and drivers to get accustomed to people walking away from a vicious crash. The fact that Travis didn't (or hasn't yet, to be optimistic) serves as a stark reminder of this fact. Kids who are in the mini-sprint level need to understand that if they want to do this when they get older, there are still big risks.
- It's how safety changes get made: Unfortunately, it's been my experience that safety changes don't get made until after something tragic happens. But what can we learn from this? Perhaps the Action Track needs more warning lights. Or we need to revisit the concept of radios that allow race officials to communicate with drivers if there is danger on the track.
I know this is a tough situation, and I certainly wouldn't want to post a video just to glorify it. As for the family: I suppose the only thing I could say would be that it's a conscious effort to watch the video or not, and I can understand not wanting to see it.
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