Racing fan is killed and two others injured when they are struck by a buggie in a horror crash at a desert rally
- A fan has died and two people have been injured at the Finke Dessert Race, NT
- Police confirmed the man in his 60s died after being struck by a car on Monday
- Competitors are being diverted from the area, which is now a crime scene
A spectator has died and two people have been injured at the Finke Desert Race near Alice Springs.
Northern Territory police confirmed the man died after being struck by a vehicle on Monday morning, 35km from the start/finish line.
The man in his 60’s was a spectator at the event and died at the scene.
The area has been cordoned off and competitors have been diverted from the area, which has been declared a crime scene.
A male spectator in his 50’s was also injured in the incident and he was taken to Alice Springs Hospital.
A spectator has died and two people have been injured at the Finke Desert Race (pictured) near Alice Springs
The female navigator of the vehicle, aged in her 50’s, received minor injuries and was also taken to hospital.
A spokesperson for NT Health says both are in a stable condition.
Kerry Turley, from NSW, was spectating the race with his family when the crash unfolded just metres away.
‘A trophy truck had come over this sand dune and bounced and bounced, and then they just veered to the left,’ Mr Turley told ABCNews.
‘There were people running everywhere.
‘We just didn’t know where my son was, whether he’d been hit and whether there were more people under the truck at all. It was just terrifying.’
The Tatts Finke Desert Race is an off-road multi-terrain two-day race for bikes, cars, buggies and quads
Motorsport Australia confirmed on its Facebook page arrangements will be made with police for vehicles stopped on the course at various locations on the Finke Track to be recovered by crews.
They also confirmed the car section of the race has been concluded by the clerk of the course.
According to the race website, the Tatts Finke Desert Race is an off-road multi-terrain two-day race for bikes, cars, buggies and quads through desert country from Alice Springs to Aputula (Finke).
Held annually on the Queen’s Birthday long weekend in June, it’s one of the biggest annual sporting events in the Northern Territory.
The race is one of the most difficult off-road remote courses in the world.
The race, which is held annually, runs through desert country from Alice Springs to Aputula (Finke)