A pre-race practice session for the San Felipe 250 turned into a life-threatening ordeal this week for drivers Janey Lee and Kylie Marie Walton. The two women, widely recognized as prominent figures in the off-road racing community and as Monster Energy ambassadors, were airlifted to a specialized burn unit in San Diego after their truck caught fire on Tuesday morning.
Lee’s husband, Eric, a skateboarder and fellow off-road racer, shared the details of the accident in an emotional video posted to social media. Sitting down to address the public, a visibly shaken Eric explained that he had to write his thoughts down because the reality of the situation was too difficult to speak about freely.
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According to Eric, the fire started suddenly and trapped his wife inside the cockpit. The mechanical failure occurred during a “pre-run,” a common practice where drivers scout the 250-mile course before the official start of the SCORE World Desert Championship season opener.
“Tuesday at approximately 11 a.m., Janey and Kylie were involved in an accident while pre-running the San Felipe 250,” Eric said. “The car caught fire under Janey’s seat and her seatbelts were not released. At that point she was fully engulfed in flames, Kylie had to reach in and release the seatbelt for her. Kylie saved Janey’s life.”
Eric noted that while Walton’s quick thinking prevented a total tragedy, the rescuer did not escape unharmed. “As a result, Kylie’s hands were burnt,” he said. He credited safety equipment for preventing even worse injuries to his wife. “Janey’s gloves and helmet saved her hands and her face.”
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Both women are currently stable but face a long series of medical procedures. A photo from the hospital showed the pair smiling despite their injuries, with their limbs heavily bandaged. Eric provided a candid assessment of the surgeries required to treat the extensive burns.
“Janey has extensive burns to her legs, it will require several surgeries,” Eric explained. “Her right leg is not as bad as her left leg. Her left leg is burned pretty bad, and she has some burns on her shoulder here that will also require some grafting. She’s a trooper, and she’s in good spirits.”
Regarding Walton, he added, “Kylie’s hands were burnt. She will require a little surgery for her hands. She’s in good spirits too. The girls are tough. They really are.”
Support from the Racing Community
The off-road world has rallied around the two drivers. SCORE International, the sanctioning body for the race, released a statement confirming that the women received immediate help from bystanders before being transported across the border for emergency care in the United States.
In his video, Eric expressed deep gratitude for the “off-road community” and the individuals who stopped at the scene of the fire. “We love the off-road community and how they showed up, that’s why we are here doing what we do,” he said. “I would like to thank the people that stopped to help. There will be more updates coming. Thank you for the wishes.”
Lee and Walton, who began their careers as promotional models before moving into the driver’s seat, made their competitive debut last year. While their racing season is now on hold, their families and teams are focused entirely on their upcoming surgeries and the long recovery ahead.
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