Sheriff: Debris likely cause of death in Kat Moller in racing accident

Wayne T. Price
Florida Today
Kat Moller, 24, died Nov. 15, 2018, in a racing accident at Sebring International Raceway. Moller was a member of
the Larsen Motorsports Team.

Authorities investigating last week's crash that claimed the life of drag racer Katarina "Kat" Moller said the accident was probably caused by a piece of debris that struck her helmet.

The death of the 24-year-old jet dragster racer occurred Thursday during an exhibition run at  Sebring International Raceway in Highlands County. Moller had raced dragsters since she was 11.

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The Sarasota native was a driver for the American Dream racing team, one of six teams under the aegis of the Palm Bay-based Larsen Motorsports.

According to authorities, Moller was making her first exhibition run of the night at Sebring’s regular drag racing event. 

According to a news released from the Highlands County Sheriff's Department:

"During the first of two scheduled exhibition runs, Moller’s dragster was observed drifting from the left lane towards the center line. As it crossed the center line during the run, the dragster struck a timing device located between lanes at the drag racing finish line.  A parachute was observed to have deployed at or around this same time. As the dragster continued down the track, it drifted further right, scraping the right side retaining barrier wall before coming to rest after a low-speed impact with a tire barrier near Turn One on the race track."

Safety and medical personnel rushed to the vehicle, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A medical examiner has not issued their final report, and an investigation is ongoing. Anyone who can provide information or video of the incident is urged to contact Highlands County detectives at detectives@highlandssheriff.org or 863-402-7250.

Contact Price at 321-242-3658

or wprice@floridatoday.com.

Twitter: @Fla2dayBiz

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