- Written by Francis Mao and Hafsa Khalil
- BBC News
A race car crashes into spectators at a motor event in Sri Lanka, killing seven people and injuring 21 others.
The accident occurred Sunday at the Fox Hill Supercross race in the army base town of Diyatalawa.
According to the military, the dead included four race personnel and spectators, including an 8-year-old girl.
Few details have been released about the driver, his condition or whether he will face charges.
However, authorities said a full police investigation into the accident on military-owned railway lines was underway. Diyatalawa, in south-central Sri Lanka, is a former garrison town where the military maintains an academy.
“The accident occurred when the car veered out of its lane,” police spokesperson Nihal Talduwa said, according to BBC Sinhala.
Witnesses said the accident occurred shortly after another car overturned on the track.
Officials tried to slow down cars around the scene by waving yellow lights, but as cars sped by, a red car veered off course and crashed into unguarded spectators at the side of the track.
image source, Getty Images
Footage widely shared on social media showed the aftermath of the tragedy, including screaming crowds and people rushing to the scene.
Five people died at the scene and two later died at the hospital. The others remain in critical condition, officials said.
Sri Lankans have taken to social media to criticize the lack of safety fencing on some sections of the course and question why stronger protection wasn’t in place.
The event, run by the Sri Lanka Automobile Sports Association, has been held since 1993, but this was the first race in five years due to pandemic restrictions and challenges stemming from the country’s economic crisis.
Organizers had opened the event to the public free of charge ahead of time and claimed about 100,000 people attended.
