Sri Lanka: Motorsports race car strikes crowd, killed seven people

• A race car collided with spectators during the Fox Hill Supercross race in Diyatalawa, an army base town.
• Four race officials and spectators were killed, including an eight-year-old girl.
• Authorities have arrested two drivers, but their condition remains unclear.

A race car plowed into spectators at a motor event in Sri Lanka, resulting in seven deaths and 21 injuries. The crash took place during the Fox Hill Supercross race on Sunday in Diyatalawa, an army base town. The casualties included four race officials and spectators, including an eight-year-old girl, according to the army.

Authorities have arrested two drivers, although their condition remains unclear. They stated that a full police investigation was underway into the crash on the army-owned track. Diyatalawa, located in central southern Sri Lanka, is a former garrison town where the military maintains an academy.

Sinhala quoted police spokesman Nihal Talduwa as saying, “The accident happened when the car jumped out of the running lane.”

According to witnesses, the crash occurred shortly after another car had overturned on the track. Officials attempted to slow down cars around the scene by waving yellow lights. However, as the cars sped past, one red car veered off course and collided with spectators on the side of the unguarded track. Footage widely shared on social media depicted the aftermath of the tragedy, with screams heard in the crowd and people rushing to the scene.

Officials said five people were killed at the scene, while two died later in the hospital. They added that others remain in critical condition.

Elsewhere on social media, Sri Lankans have questioned why there were not greater protections, criticizing the lack of safety barriers on some stretches of the track.

The Sri Lankan Automobile Sports Association, which runs the event, has operated since 199 – but this was the first race in five years due to pandemic restrictions and issues resulting from the country’s economic crisis.

Before the start time, organizers had opened up the event to spectators free of charge and claimed that about 100,000 people were present.

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