Categories: World News

Sri Lanka: Seven killed as motorsports race car hits crowd


  • By Frances Mao and Hafsa Khalil
  • BBC News
21 April 2024

Updated 12 minutes ago

To play this content, please enable JavaScript, or try a different browser

Video caption, Watch: Scene at race car track after Sri Lanka crash

Seven people have been killed and 21 injured after a race car ploughed into spectators at a motor event in Sri Lanka.

The crash occurred at the Fox Hill Supercross race on Sunday in Diyatalawa, an army base town.

Among the dead were four race officials as well as spectators, including an eight-year-old girl, the army said.

Police have arrested two drivers, though their condition remains unclear.

Authorities said a full police investigation was underway into the crash on the army-owned track. Diyatalawa, in central southern Sri Lanka, is a former garrison town and the military maintains an academy there.

“This accident happened when the car jumped out of the running lane,” police spokesman Nihal Talduwa was quoted by BBC Sinhala as saying.

According to witnesses, the crash happened soon after another car had overturned on the track.

Officials tried to slow cars down around the scene by waving yellow lights, but as the cars sped past, one red car veered off course and crashed into spectators on the side of the unguarded track.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, On social media, Sri Lankans have criticised the lack of safety barriers on some stretches of the track

Footage widely shared on social media showed the aftermath of the tragedy – screams in the crowd and people rushing to the scene.

Five people were killed at the scene while two later died in hospital. Others remain in a critical condition, officials said.

Elsewhere on social media, Sri Lankans have questioned why there were not greater protections, criticising the lack of safety barriers on some stretches of the track.

The event, run by the Sri Lankan Automobile Sports Association, has operated since 199 – but this was the first race in five years due to pandemic restrictions and issues resulting from the country’s economic crisis.

Prior to the state time, organisers had opened up the event to spectators free of charge and claimed that about 100,000 people were present.



Source link

Recent Posts

Small plane crashes into Brazilian city, killing all 10 people on board

CNN  —  A small plane has crashed into an urban center in the southern Brazilian city of Gramado, killing all… Read More

10 hours ago

Will the Christmas market attack divide Germans further over immigration? | Crime

German authorities say the suspect supports a right-wing party.German authorities say the psychiatrist accused of a ramming attack in Magdeburg… Read More

11 hours ago

China says US ‘playing with fire’ by giving Taiwan more military aid

Beijing calls on the US to stop ‘dangerous moves’ that ‘undermine peace and stability’ in the Taiwan Strait.China has warned… Read More

15 hours ago

Russia-Ukraine war: List of key events, day 1,032

Here are the key developments on the 1,032nd day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Here is the situation on Sunday, December… Read More

23 hours ago

Inside the Final Days of the Assad Regime in Syria

As rebels advanced toward the Syrian capital of Damascus on Dec. 7, the staff in the hilltop Presidential Palace prepared… Read More

1 day ago

Is the US willing to take action against foreign powers fuelling Sudan war? | Sudan war

The conflict in Sudan has killed tens of thousands of people and displaced 12 million. US President Joe Biden is… Read More

1 day ago

This website uses cookies.