Spectator Killed In Tragic San Marino Rally Crash
The San Marino Rally Legend event ended in tragedy on Sunday, when a Renault Clio Maxi crashed into spectators. One man - since named as 57-year-old Henry Anselmino - was killed instantly, and a further eight people injured. Three of the wounded spectators have been reported to be in a critical condition.
While the cause of the crash isn’t known, footage from the incident (available on YouTube, but we’ve chosen not to publish it on here) shows that the Clio may have had some sort of braking issue at the time.
The rally organisers released the following statement on Sunday:
A race accident occurred today, Sunday, October 9th, at 11.56, on the special stage “San Marino 1”. It involved car no. 44 Bonaso Enrico - Palazzi Alice (Renault Clio Maxi), which went off the road and hit some straw bales protecting a run-off path. Some spectators standing right behind the bales remained involved.
Race Control decided to immediately stop the Special Stage and requested all emergency vehicles serving the stage, to reach the crash site.
One of the involved spectators, whose identity is not known, yet, lost his life instantly.Other injured spectators, were immediately reached by the ambulances and medical personnel on duty and transferred to the hospital.
By decision of the Organisers and Race Control, the 14th Rallylegend has been declared ended after Special Stage “San Marino 1”, with the arrival of all cars to Regrouping.The Prize-giving Ceremony has been cancelled.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
Oh dear…. May he Rest In Peace.
Wheels are way too out of our reach anyway.
This is a sad time :( - thought id copy a great quote from MR P.Walker: “If one day the speed kills me, don’t cry. Because I was smiling.”
You think he smiled jerk he probbably cryed knowing that his doughter wouldn grown without him!!!
There was no evidence of Paul Walker ever saying that.
It’s a reminder:
Motorsport can be dangerous.
And not just to the driver. :/
I saw the video on youtube, looks like people were in a run off area. The clio had it wheels locked, so it was sliding before the crash.
It really seems like that spectator area should have been flagged as a safety hazard on the run through by officials.
It was off a straight too apparently, not the smartest idea considering it was on tarmac under wet conditions.
Basically:
That was a run-off area,which being a run-off area wasn’t protected by any straw bales.
No one was supposed to be there and as always in Italy no one nows why there were people there.
The car locked its brakes up,as the road was wet and slippery.
You know the rest.
This being said,the man’s daughter is physically disabled (this before the accident) so,just to be clear…
This is why you go knowing full well what could possibly happen
Rest in Peace Henry Anselmino.
No one died in trinidad when we had no safety… Guys.. This could of been us :o …also shows how lucky tt really is lol
It wasn’t a breakdown, the problem is the driver came in the corner a little bit too hot, understood he couldn’t make the turn without going off into the spectator. So he decided to go straight in a little path on the outside of the bend made specifically in case someone came too long. In that spot is forbidden to stay, but some people, including a race officer were there, because was one of the best spot to watch the cars passing through. So in my opinion it’s not the driver’s fault! Spectator in rallies should know very well where to stay
darwin award winners right there, people like that got the only rally in my town shut down forever, and all because a woman was standing in the runoff area in the turn with a jump, the lancia stratos rolled over and she got squashed under it…honestly i think there should be guards or cops preventing people from getting in the outside of the turn or runoff area… Because then this happens
I feel sorry for them tough…