Greenville

Teenager Dies Following Dirt Car Racing Accident in Greenville

Caleb Couch, 17, died after a fiery crash during a dirt race over the weekend

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The dirt car racing community is mourning the loss of a North Texas teenager who died in an accident over the weekend.

Mini-sprint car driver Caleb Couch was racing at Superbowl Speedway in Greenville when he had an accident Saturday night.

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His father, Brandon Couch, a coach at Braswell High School, later wrote on Twitter that Calebโ€™s car was โ€œengulfed in flames and they couldn't get him out,โ€ and that he was โ€œin the burn ICU with 3rd-degree burns on 60% of his body."

Caleb later died.

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โ€œIt hit so close to home,โ€ said Glen Hibbard, a longtime dirt car racer.

Hibbard said the tragedy drives home just how dangerous the sport can be.

โ€œSoon as I heard about it, it broke my heart. I hate it for the family, I hate it for anybody that knew him, that was friends with him, and I hate it for our sport,โ€ Hibbard said.

Since the accident, condolences for Caleb have poured in from across the country.

Many are pledging to do everything it takes to avoid a similar tragedy.

Hibbard, and some race organizers tell us, they're now re-evaluating safety measures.

For Hibbard, it means installing fire suppression systems on his cars.

โ€œI don't have them on my cars, but I bet they will be on there,โ€ he said. โ€œI don't want to rely 100% on somebody else to put me out. I want to at least have a fighting chance.โ€

Hibbard has started an online fundraiser for the Couch family.

Caleb Couch was 17 years old and set to be a senior year at Wylie East High School.

The Superbowl Speedway says it has canceled races this weekend out of respect for the Couch family.

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