MINI Crashes into Crowd at Targa Tasmania

Sections: Motorsports Apr 30th, 2006 11 Comments

This tagic news comes from MotoringFile reader Fred Hornung:

Here is some bad news from Australia, Saturday a Mini Cooper S crashed into the spectator crowd in Tasmania and injured 3 people seriously. The Japanese driver and navigator were shaken but unhurt. (I saw the footage on channel 10 on TV this evening and it was definitely a PW Mini Cooper S, not a Mini Cooper)

Here’s the official release from Targa Tasmania PR:

Earlier today a competition vehicle was involved in an incident on the Targa Tasmania Hobart stage in the StateÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã¢â€žÂ¢s south, causing injuries to three male spectators.

A competition vehicle veered off course and impacted a group of spectators. As a result of the incident, the injured were transported to the Royal Hobart Hospital by ambulance.

Of the three injured, two have been admitted to hospital: one male, 40, has sustained chest and leg injuries and is listed as serious and another male, 64, has sustained injuries to his head and shoulders and is also listed as being in a serious condition.

The third spectator, 39, has sustained back injuries. This person has been listed as stable and has not yet been admitted to hospital.

All spectators involved in the incident are from Tasmania.

The crew involved were driver Nob Ikeda, 40, and navigator Shoichi Shibue, 36, both of Japan in a privately entered 2004 MINI Cooper S. Both driver and navigator were uninjured but were taken to hospital for observation.

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident. In the meantime, Targa Tasmania, CAMS and event officials are working with Tasmania Police and other civil authorities.

Event organiser Octagon has implemented its event chaplain and counselling services for the relatives of the injured persons and other competitors and officials involved in the event.

Additional statements will be made as more information becomes available.

More news can be found here:

[ Spectators injured in Targa Tasmania ] ABC.net.au

Written By: Gabe

Nathaniel Salzman

Ouch! That’s rough stuff. Does anyone have the video on that? Not that I want to see people getting nailed by a car, but I am curious as to how it happened, where people were sitting or standing, and so forth. For future reference mostly, should I wind up at a similar event.
Siddhartha

” . . . wind up at a similar event.”

It’s always a good idea to watch Targas and Rallys from a perch in a nearby sturdy tree. Some twine and a few cushions will allow you to fashion quite a comfortable little nest up there. Bring binoculars, food, plenty of water and a sharp stick to repel boarders. :-)
Baron

That’s awful news to hear. I’m glad no one was killed!!!
Shamus

I’ve watched plenty of crash videos where spectators lined up on the sides of the road are jumping out of the way at the last second. This sort of thing is fine for 30mph bicycle races, but high-speed auto racing?! Group-B Rally was banned by the FIA because of this.
Damion

There’s video on this newspage http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200604/s1626609.htm
Ken

Speed is showing Targa Newfoundland the weekend of the dragon Saturday, May 6th. Set your TIVO!! http://speedtv.com/schedule/index.php?timezone=0&d=&ts=&week=&wholeMonth=&usecal=yes
Greg W

Commiserations from New Zealand. We run Targa events like this and also had an incident involving a classic Ford Lotus Cortina – thankfully no one was killed. A recent motor racing event, the Australian V8 Supercar round held at Pukekohe, NZ, saw a Porsche Cup car leap a fence and also a V8 racing car crash into a barrier and a piece of post hit a photographer. Remeber people – Motor Racing is a dangerous sport even for spectators.
TSizemore3

I know this is off topic, and I may be a bit out of touch lately, but did anyone notice the banner ad on this page for MINIfini? Are they back?
http://www.motoringfile.com/ Gabe

They are back!
O(=^=)OCapn

That is great! I tried to aquire Mini-Fini but no one would return my calls, that is no one that could sell it. I am so happy that they made it!
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