WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: A rally driver lost control of his car and barrelled into a crowd of spectators, leaving one man dead and two others injured in a horror crash in Argentina
A spectator has been killed after a rally car barrel-rolled into the crowd in a horrifying crash.
Footage showed the moment a Volkswagen Polo R5 somersaulted several times before careering off the track and smashing into a group of fans positioned in a spectator area.
A 25-year-old man, identified as Brahian Zárate González, was taken to hospital but subsequently died from his injuries. A 40-year-old woman suffered a fractured ankle while a young girl sustained minor bruising. The tragic incident happened during the Rally Sudamericano Mina Clavero, which forms part of the FIA CODASUR South American Rally Championship, yesterday (April 19).
The collision occurred during the ‘Giulio Cesare’ timed section of the competition in Mina Clavero, northern Argentina.
Paraguayan driver Didier Arias and co-driver Hector Nunez lost control of their machine after striking a dirt bank.
While both crew members escaped without serious harm, the consequences for those on the ground proved catastrophic.
Event officials immediately halted the stage and subsequently called off the rest of the competition as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
The governing International Automobile Federation (FIA) released a statement offering their “deepest sympathies and sincere condolences” to those affected.
A spokesperson commented: “The FIA is deeply saddened by the tragic incident that occurred today during Round 2 of the FIA CODASUR Rally Championship at Rally Sudamericano Mina Clavero, in which one spectator lost their life and two others were injured.”
The FIA confirmed they are offering complete assistance to the Argentine Automobile Club and local authorities in their probe into the collision.
The tragedy casts a shadow over what has been a bleak weekend for motorsport, after racing driver Juha Miettinen lost his life during the Nürburgring qualifiers on Saturday, as reported by NeedToKnow.