NASCAR blew off a severe storm warning at the Pocono 400 race until the storm got so bad it had to stop the race, and 6 minutes later a fan was killed by lightning in the parking lot, his family claims in court. Brian Zimmerman was killed by lightning at 5:00pm on Aug. 5, 2012, his widow Marion claims in the Court of Common Pleas. She sued Pocono International Raceway and NASCAR, on Aug. 1. Ten other people were injured by lightning, one of whom sued NASCAR and the Pocono Raceway in July. Zimmerman claims that NASCAR and the Pocono Raceway received a severe thunderstorm warning from the National Weather Service at 4:12pm, but they "did nothing" to stop the race or warn fans until 4:21, when they "attempted to use social media" to warn race fans of the approaching storm. Brian Zimmerman did not have access to social media at the raceway, his widow says. The defendants stopped the race at 4:54pm At 4:59, they used social media again to warn fans to seek shelter. Brian was hit by lightning at 5:00pm and died. In the July lawsuit, Jason Peneck's wife Erin claims her husband suffered "severe and permanent injuries, including, but not limited to, a traumatic brain injury, second degree burns, and dysautonomia."(Courthouse News Service)
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