Man killed in Lamborghini crash at Disney World was track employee

A Lamborghini driven by a customer at an exotic-car racing attraction on Walt Disney World property crashed into a guardrail, killing a driving instructor who was in the passenger seat, a spokeswoman said Monday.

Gary Terry was a senior operations manager at the Exotic Driving Experience at Walt Disney World, and he also was a professional driving instructor, said Lauren Swoboda, a spokeswoman for Petty Holdings LLC, which operated the attraction.

“Yesterday we lost a long-time, valued team member of the Exotic Driving Experience family,� company officials said in statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with Gary’s family and friends. He will be sorely missed.�

Tavon Watson, 24, of nearby Kissimmee, lost control of the vehicle Sunday afternoon, killing Terry, 36, of Davenport, Florida, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Watson failed to maneuver the high-powered vehicle through the course and the sports car’s passenger side struck the guardrail, authorities said. Terry died at the scene. Watson was treated and released from a hospital.

The attraction lets racecar fans be drivers or passengers in luxurious cars such as Lamborghinis, Porsches or Ferraris. For $200 to $400, customers can drive several laps with a professional driving instructor in the passenger seat. It is located south of the Magic Kingdom parking lots.

A spokeswoman said Disney offers its “deepest sympathy to those involved� in the crash.

Petty Holdings has other Exotic Driving Experience attractions at speedways in Atlanta, Daytona Beach, New Jersey, Kansas, New Hampshire and Texas.

The Exotic Driving Experience, along with its sibling track, the Richard Petty Driving Experience, was slated to close this summer at Disney World for unrelated reasons.

Swoboda said driving classes at the Exotic Driving Experience at Walt Disney World would be put on hold for the rest of the week.

Montes said the crash is under investigation.