A race car in Sri Lanka veered off its track Sunday, smashing into spectators and officials and killing seven people, including a child.
At least 20 others were sent to the hospital, three of them with critical injuries, police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said. Four track assistants and an 8-year-old child were among the dead, said Thalduwa, according to Agence France-Presse.
The event was the Fox Hill Supercross, organized by the Sri Lankan army and Sri Lanka Automobile Sports in the town of Diyatalawa, about 110 miles east of Colombo, the capital.
AP Photo/STR
People gather around a car that had crashed into the spectators during the Fox Hill Supercross, a motor racing event organized by the Sri Lanka’s army, in Diyatalawa, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/STR)
Track marshals were helping a driver whose car had overturned and were warning others away, according to video posted on social media, when one of the other cars whipping around the track lost control on the unprotected section of track and slammed into the spectators.
Part of traditional New Year festivities, the event was resuming for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. About 45,000 people were present to watch the race, which was held at the Sri Lankan military academy. This was the 17th of 24 scheduled events, though the accident halted the rest of the race. Thalduwa said police are investigating.
The tragedy occurred on the five-year anniversary of the Easter Sunday suicide bombings of April 21, 2019, in which nearly 270 people were killed, including 42 foreigners from 14 countries including the U.S. In addition at least 500 people were injured in the coordinated attacks on churches and hotels.
With News Wire Services
