nascar

In modern times? When and where?

F1 had actually gone a very long time, since Senna in 1994, but I was watching the 2014 Japanese Grand Prix where Jules Bianchi had an accident that ultimately took his life.  He didn't pass away right away but rather some months later after being in a coma since the crash.  I still remember when it happened.  On television they didn't say what happened at first but I could feel that something was bad wrong.  I thought he did die during the crash but we eventually found out he wasn't dead yet, but it was at least very bad.  He never recovered from it and eventually succumbed to his injuries.  It was thirty years since the last F1 fatality.

A few years earlier, IndyCar driver Dan Wheldon suffered a fatal crash in 2011 at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, where he ironically died from an impact with a safety fence.

In 2013 Allan Simonsen had a fatal accident very near the start of the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

These are just off the top of my head and that I was unfortunate enough to witness live.