John Westbrook

John Westbrook, center, leaves the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle with his family on July 17, 2014. Westbrook suffered injuries in a crash at Williams Grove Speedway that left him a quadriplegic in 2008. The prosecution is seeking medical care expenses, and they are also suing Williams Grove Speedway for pain and suffering. Christine Baker | cbaker@pennlive.com

(CHRISTINE BAKER | PennLive.com)

CARLISLE — Williams Grove Speedway met all industry standards for a dirt-track racing facility, said the final witness in a suit brought by former sprint car driver John Westbrook against the Monroe Township, Cumberland County, racetrack.

Westbrook crashed between the first and second turns at Williams Grove during Friday-night racing September 5, 2008, and is permanently paralyzed as a result of his injuries. His suit claims the racetrack should have had a catch fence in the crash area that would have prevented his car from falling down an incline.

"Catch fence" is a misleading term, testified Martyn Thake of Tucson, Arizona, a designer, builder and inspector of racetracks called as an expert witness for the defense.

"The fence is not designed to catch the car ... its design is to prevent debris from the racetrack getting to the spectators."

A car is "a rather large piece of debris," Thake said, but a debris fence should be designed to prevent a car from leaving the track and entering the grandstand. By that standard and all other industry standards listed in his report, Thake said, "I would accept the racetrack."

Thake testified there are no written regulations for sprint-car racetracks, so inspectors have developed their own "generally accepted guidelines," which he applied to Williams Grove when he visited the track last year.

On cross examination, he testified that the HANS head and neck restraint, which an expert witness testified Friday morning could have prevented Westbrook's injury, was one brand among many types of head restraints.

Evidence showed that Williams Grove's recommended safety equipment for drivers listed "neck collar," and Thake testified that, "in my opinion, 'neck collar' includes the HANS device."

Earlier testimony established that Westbrook was wearing a circular foam collar between his shoulders and helmet. Westbrook's former fiancée testified Friday morning that Westbrook couldn't afford a HANS device.

"It was his (Westbrook's) obligation as a driver to make himself as safe as he possibly could," Thake told the jury.

The trial is expected to conclude Monday in the Cumberland County courtroom of Judge M.L. Ebert. Westbrook's attorney, David Inscho, and Williams Grove's attorney, Brigid Alford, will present closing arguments before the jury begins deliberation.