Gironde: Rally Saint-Emilion crash, three people “in serious condition”

Serious accident during the National Rally Saint-Emilion (Gironde). This Saturday, shortly before noon, three members of the organization were hit by a car participating in the race. The three victims, two women aged 44 and 65 and a 73-year-old man, were taken “in serious condition” to the University Hospital of Bordeaux for one and to the Libourne Hospital Center for the other two after receiving emergency treatment. This was reported to AFP in the prefecture, confirming the information of the Sud Ouest newspaper.

The accident took place at a place called the Croix du Gui, in the wine-producing town of Lussac, where the first special event of the 31st edition of this automobile rally took place. According to Lussac Mayor Dorothy Breton, the driver lost control of his car “after the impact,” hitting the three officials who were “off the road” near a vineyard site. They were responsible for timing the runners, Sud Ouest clarifies.

Aborted Race

“The wounded were given immediate assistance, and their life forecasts were not taken into account during the evacuation,” she added. The pilot and his co-pilot were slightly injured, but their condition did not require evacuation, the same source added.

The race, which took place on Friday and Saturday in four municipalities of the region, was interrupted. An investigation has been launched to establish responsibility for the accident, Sud Ouest points out.

This is not the first accident of its kind in motor racing. In June 2022, two spectators were seriously injured during a rally in Haut-Sona. The pilot swerved off the road again.