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Three spectators dead - Jim Clark Rally Scotland

Posted by darkknight9 
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Three spectators dead - Jim Clark Rally Scotland
May 31, 2014 04:42PM
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-27651504

Three people have been killed in a collision between a vehicle and spectators at the Jim Clark Rally in the Scottish Borders, police say.

The incident occurred at about 16:00 BST when a car taking part in the motor racing event came off the road.

A fourth person was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and is reported to be in a critical condition.

Another collision at the event, two hours previously, left five people injured, one of them seriously.

Police Scotland said the rally was cancelled with immediate effect after the second incident.

The emergency services are at the scene at Little Swinton, near Coldstream.
Police investigation

In a statement, the organisers of the rally said they were "devastated" to confirm that three people had been killed while watching the event - the 44th running of the Jim Clark Rally.

"The incident is now in the hands of Police Scotland," the statement read.

"Berwick and District Motor Club, Border Ecosse Car Club and the governing body, the Motor Sports Association (MSA), are co-operating fully with the police investigation.

"As with any serious incident on a motor sport event, the MSA will conduct its own thorough enquiry once the police investigation is concluded."

The incident happened during a special stage 16 and the remaining two stages of the rally were immediately abandoned, the organisers said.

One eyewitness, Tony Cowan, said: "It was just one car which lost control. It went sideways one way and then to the other side of the road and ploughed into four people.

"It was terrible, absolutely terrible. I ran to help but there was little I could do. The air ambulance arrived after about three quarters of an hour. There were police cars and ambulances. It was chaos, just chaos."

Another eyewitness wrote on Facebook: "Huge accident at rally. Not far from us. About 15 emergency vehicles here now and about 40 people stood working on the injured. Not good."
'Dreadful news'

The annual rally takes place over three days on closed roads in the Duns and Kelso areas of the Borders.

It is held in honour of the Scottish former Formula 1 champion, Jim Clark, who died in a motor racing accident in Hockenheim, Germany in 1968.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond said the tragedy was "desperately sad and difficult news".

"The government is in contact with Police Scotland and we await the outcome of their inquiries," he said.

"The Jim Clark Rally is a long-standing event of over 40 years. It is much loved in the Borders and by the rally driving community who I know will share in our sadness at what is a black day for the Borders and for Scotland."

ohn Lamont, a local MSP, said his "thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families".

"I know that the rally organisers place considerable emphasis on the safety of the spectators and drivers but, with any event of this nature, there will always be an element of risk," he said.

"I live just a few miles away from the scene of the accident and I know that everyone is shocked and saddened by this dreadful news."



Kirk Coughlin
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Re: Three spectators dead - Jim Clark Rally Scotland
May 31, 2014 08:56PM
Tragic news, an organizers worst fear. There are no words to convey the feelings at a time like this. Thoughts and prayers for all involved.
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Re: Three spectators dead - Jim Clark Rally Scotland
June 01, 2014 12:33AM
Our own danster---Danny McGee, the mad VW man was there "recovering" from self-inflect Mountain Bike Enduro..

Hope he's OK.

Once again, fatalities and its asphalt again.



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Re: Three spectators dead - Jim Clark Rally Scotland
June 01, 2014 12:41AM
The news article says it is the only 'closed road' rally in the UK, I'm guessing 'closed road' is another term for tarmac rally?
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Re: Three spectators dead - Jim Clark Rally Scotland
June 01, 2014 01:42AM
Quote
heymagic
The news article says it is the only 'closed road' rally in the UK, I'm guessing 'closed road' is another term for tarmac rally?

No they mean only "closed road " on the mainland. They have Isle of Man, and there's Northern Irish events both those are in "The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland"..

And it is tarmac...and done on "closed roads"...where most of their tarmac is at airfield "single venue" things or across the Irish Sea they go..

But this is Scotland and Scottish laws in general and town/county laws are unique to Scotland.



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Re: Three spectators dead - Jim Clark Rally Scotland
June 01, 2014 11:53AM
If I'm not mistaken, the military range roads on Epynt are open to the general public when not in use by the military. Therefore, for an event, they are 'closed'. So the article is wrong stating it's the only 'closed road' event.
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Re: Three spectators dead - Jim Clark Rally Scotland
June 01, 2014 12:33PM
Epynt is a miliary area and is as such is only open when they allow it. The same as Otterburn in Northumberland. The Jim Clark is the only mainland event that uses public roads which have been closed to allow this event to happen. It took a lot of years lobbying at all levels and an act of Parliament to enable this event to happen.



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Re: Three spectators dead - Jim Clark Rally Scotland
June 02, 2014 08:58AM
Ugly, and after all that work to make the event possible. I wonder if it was a crowd control issue or just a freak incident.



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