A Spectator Has Died At Rallye Monte Carlo After A Crash On Stage One
The World Rally Championship’s new era got off to a tough start, with the opening stage of the Rallye Monte Carlo being cancelled after an incident.
A crash for Haydon Paddon on an icy left-hand corner also involved a spectator, who sadly died after the incident.
Paddon’s Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC slid off the icy road, with the car crashing into a bank and rolling onto its side. There is footage of the incident but we have chosen not to include it in this article.
It was reported a spectator was involved, had been injured and passed out, with medical crews quickly on the scene. But the WRC later announced the spectator had sadly passed away, issuing the following statement:
“The Automobile Club de Monaco regrets to advise further details following incident of the car #4 in SS1. The spectator was transported by helicopter from the stage to hospital in Nice. Despite the best efforts of the medical staff, the spectator has sadly died.
“An investigation has commenced into the incident and all involved parties will provide assistance to the authorities. Everyone associated with the event extends their deepest sympathies and condolences to the families, friends and individuals affected.”
Hyundai released its own statement after the incident:
Paddon shared a series of tweets, sending his condolences to the family and friends of the spectator:
Hyundai decided to withdraw the No.4 car from the rally as a mark of respect for the spectator.
The crash cancelled the first stage, with the second stage going ahead as planned. Thierry Neuville leads the way after Thursday’s action, with an 8.5 second gap to Sebastien Ogier.
Comments
Wow - “spectator,” what an awful way to leave this world, not even a driver, just a bloke watching the scene and gets killed by a driver making a mistake ..RIP
It wasn’t the drivers mistake that got him killed. There was black ice on that corner. If Paddon hadn’t span there, I guarantee someone else should have. It was the spectators positioning that got him killed. Marshals and other photographers and spectators told him to move as he wasn’t allowed there but he didn’t budge.
I looked up the video and it actually looks that the person saw the car sliding, panicked and fell down the cliff and I couldn’t really see if he even got hit by the car.
R.I.P. :(
Guys, despite what the FIA and the WTC said, he was not an spectator, he was a Spanish periodist, Jesus Ordoñez, who was doing his job, and i think is very stupid by the organization to hide what he was, as everyone is saying he was and spectator.
Sources?
dude was literally asking for it, he was sitting too close to the road because photography
That is quite unfortunate, RIP spectator and props to Hyundai for dedicating a car to him