LOS ANGELES (LALATE EXCLUISVE) – The death of Connor Penhall (photos below), motorcycle racer and son of Bruce Penhall, is prompting new concerns about Caltrans safety. Connor Penhall was killed while working for a Caltrans subcontractor. But just days earlier, he tweeted that he hated his job. While the name of the employer has not been confirmed to news, both Connor Penhall and his brother Ryan Penhall list Cut N Core, a Caltrans contractor, as an employer.

Caltrans has yet to issue a statement to news about the death of Connor Penhall last night. But police confirm that Penhall had merely cones separating him from traffic on a Los Angeles freeway. The complete condition of the safety precautions around Penhall at the time of his death is expected to prompt an investigation. But officials do confirm how one driver was able to strike Connor Penhall Wednesday, fatally killing him on impact.

Police tell news that Sakamoto exited the normal path of travel on the freeway, passed through cones, and struck Connor. Reports claim that only cones separated Penhall from Sakamoto.

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Tatsuhiko Sakamoto has been booked on suspicious of DUI. He remains in custody currently. Officials have yet to indicate if Sakamoto will also be charged with manslaughter in Penhall’s death.

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Penhall’s next to last tweet on April 3 read “Nothing worse than hear a loud smack by a car, and a dog screaming”. On March 20, he tweeted his displeasure about his job. “Just talked to @BJam_NOHO and my job s–ks.” The person he tweeted that message to  said the following today. “I’m lost for words. I love you like a brother and will never forget you. Worst news to wake up to RIP.” Funeral arrangements have not been announced to news. Send your love.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Connor Penhall, Bruce Penhall’s son, has been killed by a suspected drunk driver. Connor Penhall was a motorcycle racer. But Penhall also worked as a Caltrans subcontractor. Late Wednesday, Penhall was working on a Los Angeles freeway when he was fatally hit by a suspected drunk driver, Tatsuhiko Sakamoto.

Ryan Penhall, Connor’s brother, tweeted news of his death at 1:30 am today. “You never know what you have till you lose it.. Don’t call me.”

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CHP Officer Edmund Zorilla tells KTLA that Tatsuhiko Sakamoto, 37, allegedly drove through cones on the 10 freeway at 11:35 p.m. CHP officials claim that the crash happened near the Francisquito Avenue pass on the westbound 10 Freeway. Sakamoto is accused to crashing into Penhall at roughly sixty miles per hour.

LALATE has learned that Connor’s employer was Cut n Core. Cut N Core’s website indicates it is a subcontractor of CalTrans. “Cut ‘N Core, Inc. has been in business since 1979 and is a California Corporation. The office is located at 9194 Chesapeake Drive, San Diego, CA. 92123. Cut ‘N Core, Inc. is 100% woman-owned (SWBE, SMBE) and certified with Port of San Diego and Cal Trans.”

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Sakamoto has been charged with suspicion of DUI. Funeral arrangements for Connor McDermott Penhall have yet to be confirmed to news. Bruce Penhall has yet to comment about the matter. Send your love.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Video released of the Dan Wheldon crash today showed the tragic final moments before the wreck at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Dan Wheldon has died at age 33 after a crash in turn two during Sunday’s race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

In a news statement moments ago, IndyCar CEO Randy Bernard said “our thoughts and prayers are with his family today. IndyCar, its drivers and team owners, have decided to end the race. In honor of Dan Wheldon, the drivers have decided to do a five lap salute in his honor.”

Broadcasters had been airing a live video from inside Dan Wheldon’s car moments before the crash. Seconds before the impact, the video feed cut to a shot inside another driver’s car. Suddenly, viewers saw smoke appearing in the horizon.

The broadcast then panned to a wide shot to show the path of destruction. The announcers were left speechless. “There is contact, and huge crash up in turn number two! Oh, multiple cars involved. Oh my!” After a moment of silence, the announcer added “It looks like Dan Wheldon might involved in it.”

As the cars came to a stop, the other news reporter added “you and I just talked about this morning during the drive in today. Just this amount of cars, the speed, the chance for what they call the “big one”.” Later they added “You cannot stop these cars, the only option you have is to avoid it.”

The other drivers involved in today’s crash included JR Hildebrand (4) , Vitor Meira (14) , Charlie Kimball (83) , Tomas Scheckter (57) , Pippa Mann (30) crash during Sunday’s Izod IndyCar finale at Las Vegas Motor Speedway.

Officials confirm to news that roughly fifteen cars crashed after Wheldon went airborne on lap thirteen near turn two today. “IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries,” Bernard added. Three other drivers suffered injuries included Will Power.

Just days ago, Wheldon was added to the team to develop the online racing game Simraceway. He told news at the time “It was pretty obvious that Ignite was not looking to build just another racing game, so the opportunity to influence Simraceway’s physics directly was pretty appealing.”

Wheldon is survived by wife Susie Behm and sons Sebastian and Oliver. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.  Send your love.

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LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – Kyle Busch won the NASCAR trucks race at Phoenix International Raceway on Friday. And then on Saturday Kyle Busch won the NASCAR Nationwide Series Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 at Phoenix International Raceway. But along the way, he made NASCAR history.

Busch became the first driver to win a NASCAR race wire-to-wire since Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s run at Daytona 2003. Since Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s Daytona win on Fourth of July eight years ago, no driver on the Nationwide Series has ever won a race by leading every lap.

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Busch’s win also making him the sixth all time Nationwide most winning driver. And despite a last second advance by Carl Edwards, Busch held on. Rounding the top five were Kevin Harvick, Ryan Newman and Reed Sorenson. Friday’s win marked Busch’s 25th title in 87 truck starts. “It’s great for our sport to have a Kyle Busch come run in trucks or Nationwide,” said Ron Hornaday, to news.

Busch has had happiness off the track in recent weeks as well. Samantha Sarcinella and Kyle Busch married last New Years’ Eve.  She told fans at the time that she wanted her wedding to have lots of style. “There are these big old chandeliers and they are designing a square bar covered in ostrich and peacock feathers, my wedding theme.”

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CORAL GABLES (LALATE) – Political unrest has prompted the postponement of the Bahrain Grand Prix. The Royal Family confirmed the news today that the Bahrain Grand Prix will be cancelled after days of protests.

In a statement issued to news today, Bahrain Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa said the country must address the protests at issue, striking especially Pearl Square in the capital Manama. The Prince said the country must “focus on immediate issues of national interest and leave the hosting of Bahrain’s Formula One race to a later date.”

This is the first Grand Prix cancellations since 1985.

In a statement to news today, Bahrain International Circuit added that “the Kingdom of Bahrain would withdraw from hosting this year’s F1 Grand Prix race so that the country can focus on its process of national dialogue.” On Twitter, the track’s official told news that the HRH Crown Prince informed Bernie Ecclestone of the decision by telephone on Monday.

The Formula 1 season will now start March 27 in Australia. Insiders speculate Bahrain might be rescheduled for Round 18.

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