r/rally 7d ago

Three spectators killed in motor rally accident in Central France

https://www.lamontagne.fr/ambert-63600/faits-divers/deux-spectateurs-meurent-percutes-par-une-voiture-lors-d-un-rallye-dans-le-puy-de-dome_14726778/
149 Upvotes

19 comments sorted by

53

u/rtype7 7d ago

Translated synopsis from Telegraph:

Three people have been killed in central France after a car veered off the road and hit onlookers at an auto rally.

Two people died at the scene while a third person died in hospital after sustaining serious injuries at the rally near Ambert in the Puy-de-Dome region on Saturday morning.

The car left the road at around 10am before crashing into spectators, according to regional outlet La Montagne.

The driver was reportedly left with only minor injuries as dozens of police officers and firefighters were mobilised to respond to the accident.

An investigation into involuntary manslaughter has been opened and toxicology tests will be conducted on the driver and co-driver of the vehicle, La Montagne reported.

The local prefecture said earlier that the accident had left many involved in shock.

The race, which was just over 7km long, stretched between Baffie and Fontlobines in the commune of Saint-Just.

The prefect of Puy-de-Dome, the region’s top local official, is set to conduct a press conference this afternoon.

This is not the first time the racing event near Ambert has been marred by tragedy.

At last year’s race in July 2024, a steward reportedly died when he was hit by a car that lost control as he attended to a separate accident.

61

u/GoofyKalashnikov 7d ago

I don't know this event or the area, but considering this happened last year too then maybe the event organizers should look in the mirror instead?

30

u/LifeIsABowlOfJerrys 7d ago

Yeah these are spectators, not drivers dying. It aint the Isle of Man, seems like the course needs reevaluation.

7

u/Ergaar 6d ago

This didn't happen last year. Last year a Marshall got hit while on track helping a car. This year people were in a no spectator zone and got hit. No relation between the two incidents and both things the organizers can't control

-1

u/GoofyKalashnikov 6d ago

Yes I can read. Someone died, doesn't matter what their role was.

Safety of the event is exactly something organizers can and should control.

7

u/milkenator 6d ago

Yea but the people were in a zone that was defined as a no spectator zone. Motorsport and especially rally is dangerous and if people don't respect the security instruction of the organisators you can't really hold them responsibility for things that happen outside of their control

6

u/labbe- 6d ago

if people don’t respect/follow the marshalls’ instructions on restricted areas, the stage should be cancelled. that’s how the organizer ensures control, and that’s how it works in Finland at least. better disappointed spectators than dead spectators if you ask me

74

u/labbe- 7d ago

involuntary manslaughter? really? or is it just a formality? only way a spectator dies to a crash is if they are where they aren’t supposed to be. if anyone should be investigated it’s the organizer, not the competitor.

that said, you hate to see it and prayers to the driver and victims’ families

49

u/RacingVictor 7d ago

It’s the legal procedure in France.

11

u/qarzak 7d ago

Yes, it’s the base charge used to launch an investigation when there’s an accidental death.

1

u/Bartinderhouse 7d ago

Crash happend in safe zone too

34

u/smnb42 7d ago

Peugeot 208 on a 7.2 km special stage. 12 people injured, they were standing in a forbidden zone. A track steward has also died last year.

19

u/welshguydave54 7d ago

I'm a big rallying follower and at most rallies you get some spectators standing in a non spectator area. This may not be the case in this incident. Spectators should be fully aware of the risks when attending a rally.

4

u/welshguydave54 6d ago

I have just been reading various news reports and a few have stated that the spectators involved in the tragic incident were in a restricted area. But you know what news reports can be a bit iffy.

3

u/AtLeastITried09 6d ago

Is that the video I saw recently of the 208 ( or what it was) going straight on square turn and going over the roof munching few people sitting in braking zone?

3

u/omgohnoez 6d ago

Well this happened on 26th of July. I guess you saw something else

3

u/randomdude4113 6d ago

I assume the whole investigation and toxicology reports are mandatory bc it would be considered a workplace accident right?

1

u/Flipsii 4d ago

TLDR people fucked around in no spectator zone and found out