No charges expected in Greene County Fair demolition derby brawl
WAYNESBURG – No charges will be filed in the fight between two demolition derby drivers at the Greene County Fair that quickly escalated into a brawl between them and their supporters Friday night.
The fight at the end of the event prompted security guards to unleash pepper spray in an attempt to control the two sides, which wafted into the grandstands and sickened several people in the crowd.
Fair Manager Larry Marshall said he thinks security handled the situation appropriately and limited injuries between those involved in the fight. He said the use of pepper spray was unfortunate, but needed to break up the fight between rival competitors after one man had been punched and another was hit in the face with a helmet.
“It’s like the Hatfields and McCoys just about every demo derby you go to,” Marshall said. “It’s a shame the families get out on the track and then they’re banned for life. It’s just a normal thing that happens.”
He said medics treated several people in the grandstands for exposure to the pepper spray. Marshall added that no one in the grandstands appeared to be involved directly in the fight, although many spectators went to the fence to watch the melee.
Videos of the scene show a security guard who appeared to be involved in the fight briefly. Another security guard can be seen pulling him from the fracas. Marshall said those involved in the fight apparently used racial slurs directed at the guard, prompting him to react and get involved.
Marshall said the event’s promoter, Croushore’s Demo Derby of McClellandtown, provided security for the event in addition to security guards, two state police troopers and two Waynesburg police officers hired to patrol the fairgrounds.
The promoter, Gordon Croushore, said he had one guard patrolling the infield to check for wristbands and was not sure if that person was involved in the fight. He added that his organization is still trying to “sort out” the situation.
“It doesn’t really happen often. It’s a family event,” Croushore said.
State police said Monday afternoon that no charges had been filed in the case. Neither the fair organizers nor police identified anyone involved in the fight.
However, Marshall said anyone involved will not be permitted to return to future demolition derby events. He said the fair did not expect to make changes to the event after the skirmish.
“People come for the excitement and some of them get wound up,” Marshall said. “The demo derby brings it out in people. It’s like a full moon.”