Chuck Rodee fatal accident at Indy 500 (May 14, 1966)

Rodee died while attempting to qualify for the 1966 Indianapolis 500. He spun on a second lap warm-up and backed the car into the wall exiting Turn 1. The impact appeared minor but the rigid chassis transferred virtually the entire force of the crash to the driver. He was lifted unconscious from the car and taken to Indianapolis Methodist hospital, where he died about an hour later. Rodee suffered a ruptured aorta and lapsed into a coma. He was pronounced dead after emergency surgery failed to save him. Chuck was married and the father of four children. His family was at the hospital when he died.

This was the first fatality at he Indianapolis Motor Speedway since 1964, when Dave MacDonald and Eddie Sachs wre killed in a fiery crash near the start of the race. Rodee was the 32rd driver to die at the track since it opened in 1909.

Chuck Rodee (born Charles J. Rodeghier September 8, 1927 – died May 14, 1966) was an American racecar driver. He died while attempting to qualify for the 1966 Indianapolis 500.

He drove in the USAC Championship Car series, racing in the 1957, 1958, 1960, and 1962-1965 seasons. He finished in the top ten 4 times, with his best finish in 5th position in 1965 at Atlanta. He had 16 career starts, including the Indianapolis 500 races in 1962 and 1965. He finished in 32nd in 1962 after crashing to avoid Jack Turner, and 28th in 1965.