Toronto 1996 PPG Indy Car World Series

Race No. 11

Molson Indy Toronto
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
July 12, 1996

Fernandez Wins at Toronto...
Win overshadowed by Deaths
By Jim DeFord

©1996 SpeedCenter Internet Publishing, Inc.

TORONTO (July 14, 1996) - Adrian Fernandez won his first careerIndyCar race, but there was little to cheer about. The raceended 2 laps shy due to an accident with Stefan Johannson andJeff Krosnoff.

The two cars touched wheels and Krosnoff's car went flying intothe air hitting at least two corner workers, slamming into thecatch fence and then the front of the car smashed into a lightstandard, ripping the car to shreds.

It was announced at 5:59pm EDT that Jeff Krosnoff had died. GaryAvrin, an IndyCar race marshall was killed by debris from theaccident. A female course worker was also hospitalized with headlacerations.

Jeff Krosnoff suffered severe head, chest and skeletal injuries.Doctors were unable to revive him.

Dr. Scully reported a statement from the attending physician,IndyCar Director of Medical Affairs, Dr. Steve Olvey. Accordingto Olvey, Krosnoff was pronounced dead at Toronto WesternHospital today at 4:20 p.m., (EDT) as a result of massive headinjuries and other multiple fractures. An airway was establishedat the scene, but all attempts at resuscitation failed. He wasin full traumatic cardiac arrest at the time the IndyCar safetycrew arrived on the scene.

Krosnoff, of La Canada, Calif., is survived by his wife Tracyand his parents, Jack and Jeanne, who were all in attendance atthe race. Krosnoff was 31 years old.

Avrin, of Calgary, Alberta, was survived by his parents, Mr. andMrs. Marc Avrin. Details of his death will not be availableuntil a coroner’s investigation has been completed.

The investigation will be conducted by the coroner’s office ofthe city of Toronto under the direction of Metro Coroner, Dr.Robert Huxter and Detective Fergie Reynolds of the MetropolitanToronto Police/Traffic Services.