A Palisade man was injured during the Demolition Derby at the Red Willow County Fair in McCook.
    Donald “D-Ray” Hunt, who has a love and passion for demolition derby, suffered burns after an accident during the demo derby on July 20. His derby car was hit in the back and the front causing sparks and gas to come into the car’s cab igniting a fire.
    Hunt was unable to get out of the car and suffered third degree burns to his right arm, neck, shoulder, side, back and thigh. Hunt’s left hand has second degree burns due to trying to unlatch the seat belt of the car.
    Red Willow Rural Fire Department and demo derby judges rushed to the scene to help Hunt escape the burning car. Hunt was transported by the City of McCook Fire/Rescue to the Community Hospital in McCook and then flown by helicopter to St. Elizabeth Burn Unit in Lincoln, Neb.
    Laura Hunt, mother of Hunt, said he seems to be doing better but is still in a lot of pain. On Friday morning July 21, Hunt had surgery to place pigskin grafts due to the severity of his burns. L. Hunt mentioned another surgery will be scheduled to repair more of the burns and place more grafts.

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