Thomas Lyons, 54, of the 900 block of Kirkwood Drive in Inverness was killed when he drove a black 1987 Chevrolet Corvette at a high rate of speed in a parking lot near 3350 Salt Creek Lane, and struck a retaining wall at about 8 a.m. Monday.
The car apparently accelerated from the east side of a parking lot to the west side of the parking lot, where it struck the brick wall of a retaining wall in a rear parking lot and instantly killed the driver Tom Lyons. The one-car crash destroyed the car and started a fire in the wreck. The parking lot is adjacent to Arlington Heights racetrack property.
An Arlington Heights police officer and first responder pulled Tom Lyons from the burning car. No other injuries or occupants were reported.
Arlington Heights Fire Department firefighters extinguished the fire in the wreck and checked for structural damage to the building.
Arlington Heights Police are investigating an apparent suicide or vehicle malfunction.