A young speedway racer is in Waikato Hospital's intensive care unit with serious head injuries following an accident at Mount Maunganui's Baypark Speedway last night.
Andrew Edwards, 18, from Ohaupo, crashed heavily in the early laps of the sprint car feature race.
He was unconscious at the scene while attended by the track's paramedic staff, and then taken by ambulance to Tauranga Hospital.
He was transferred to Waikato Hospital early this morning and remains in an induced coma.
Baypark Speedway promoter Willie Kay said it appeared the throttle had stuck open in Edwards' car.
"He'd flipped over entering turn three and then the car landed back on its wheels again," said Mr Kay.
"The car has then continued under power before making contact with the wall."
Speedway NZ officials have impounded Edwards' car to carry out a crash investigation - the sport's standard procedure following accidents involving significant injuries.
Edwards has been making an impression in his rookie sprint car season and had won his first race last Saturday night.
He'd stepped up to the V8 sprint car class back in October after being one of the leading drivers in the 1300cc mini-sprint division in recent seasons.
Driver, 18, seriously hurt in Baypark smash
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