At least seven people were killed and 21 others were injured when a race car ploughed into spectators at a motorsport event hosted by Sri Lanka’s army. The incident occurred at the Fox Hill circuit, which is maintained by the Sri Lankan army.
The video of the moment when the driver crashed into the crowd on an unprotected stretch of the track went viral on social media. It showed track marshals frantically waving yellow flags to signal other drivers to slow down, but it was too late. Drivers were seen speeding past in clouds of orange dust until a red car slammed into the spectators, causing chaos and screams.
According to police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa, a total of 27 people were taken to the hospital, with seven of them tragically losing their lives. Among the deceased was an eight-year-old girl. The army chief, Vikum Liyanage, had opened the gates to spectators free of charge to promote motorsports at the event, which was being held for the first time in five years due to the Covid pandemic and the island’s economic crisis.
Sri Lanka’s roads are notoriously dangerous, with an average of eight fatalities reported daily along the country’s 12,500 kilometers of roads. This tragic incident serves as a somber reminder of
