An exhibition of drag racing machinery at the Cars for Kids charity event turned deadly as a Pro Modified car doing a burnout lost control, struck a utility pole and careened into a group of onlookers, killing six and injuring 18 others in Selmer, Tenn.

Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Browning said the six deaths included two 15-year-old girls and a 17-year-old girl. Eighteen others were injured including a 5-year-old boy. The injured were taken to hospitals in Tennessee and Mississippi.

The Highway Patrol said Raven Griswell, 15, of Finger; and Sean Michael Driskill, 22, of Adamsville, died at the scene. Four others -- Brook L. Pope, 20, of Selmer; Scarlett Replogle, 15, of Selmer; Kimberly A. Barfield, 17, of Adamsville; and Nicole Griswell, no age or hometown given -- died later in area hospitals.

An exhibition of drag racing machinery at the Cars for Kids charity event turned deadly as a Pro Modified car doing a burnout lost control, struck a utility pole and careened into a group of onlookers, killing six and injuring 18 others in Selmer, Tenn.

Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Mike Browning said the six deaths included two 15-year-old girls and a 17-year-old girl. Eighteen others were injured including a 5-year-old boy. The injured were taken to hospitals in Tennessee and Mississippi.

The Highway Patrol said Raven Griswell, 15, of Finger; and Sean Michael Driskill, 22, of Adamsville, died at the scene. Four others -- Brook L. Pope, 20, of Selmer; Scarlett Replogle, 15, of Selmer; Kimberly A. Barfield, 17, of Adamsville; and Nicole Griswell, no age or hometown given -- died later in area hospitals.

Officials identified the driver of the errant race car as Troy Critchley of Wylie, Texas. Critchley raced Pro Modified in Australia before coming to the United States in 1998. He worked initially as a crewman before advancing to driving. 

Critchley was participating in the annual Cars for Kids charity event designed to raise funds for children in need. The event, which draws as many as 40,000 to 60,000 people, was created by Larry Price in honor of his son Chad, who suffered a severe head injury in a bycycle accident. Price vowed that if his son was saved from lifelong injuries, he would devote his life raising funds for other less fortunate children. 

Cars for Kids raises close to $200,000 annually for charities that help children in need through multiple events, according to its Web site.

Cars for Kids website issued the following statement: "We as a Cars For Kids organization would like to extend our deepest regrets and sympathy to all the victims and their families who were involved in yesterday's tragedy. This organization began to help children all across the world because of an almost fatal accident 18 years ago. Our intention has always been to help as many children and their families as we possibly could. As an organization we want everyone to know the loss is deep within our hearts and we will carry the scars of each loss forever. At this time the future of Cars For Kids is undecided."

The team issued an official statement Saturday evening through their publicist.

"The race team is in shock and deeply saddened by this unexpected event. Their hearts and prayers are with the injured people and their families," said the statement.

Critchley burnout followed a tradition exhibited by participants in previous shows. The Cars for Kids website features various other high-horsepower vehicles performing burnouts in highway settings with spectators present.