Press release from Gumball 3000 more then 24 hours after the incident. We hope more drivers follow Team Polizei’s example and withdraw from the rally as that’s the only appropriate thing to do after this tragedy…
Gumball 3000 is very saddened to announce a road accident which occurred yesterday, May 2nd, involving a participating vehicle and a local vehicle in Macedonia. Exact details are still filtering through, but below are the facts as of midday May 3rd 2007 issued by the Macedonian authorities.
An adult Macedonian male aged 67 died in hospital from a heart attack following the incident where the two cars collided. The participants in the rally were held in custody last night with a preliminary court judgement expected today.
Organisers of the rally would like to express its deepest condolences to the family of the victim for this tragic accident.
Maximillion Cooper, founder of the Rally says: “It is with extreme sadness I have to make an announcement of this nature in the events nine year history.. The event is organised with each local authorities support and permission, and drivers are under strict stipulation by abide by the laws and road regulations of the country they are driving through. It is extremely sad for this unfortunate accident to have occurred. I am informed that the incident was reported immediately by the drivers. Both drivers are extremely traumatised by this occurrence.”
“Both drivers are extremely traumatized by this occurrence.”
so traumatised that they they fled the scene and tried to leave the country?
“I am informed that the incident was reported immediately by the drivers. Both drivers are extremely traumatised by this occurrence”
Funny that, conflicting reports state that they initially attempted to flee the scene in another BMW before being apprehended by police at the Albanian border. The truth will emerge before long.
This is very bad. Those poor people and thier families. There is no excuse for leaving the accident, they deserve everything they get. But it is not the fault of the Gumball organisers. They instruct everyone to obey the local laws. If these drivers did not do so they should be punished but blaming Gumball for organising the rally is like blaming Porsche for making the car!
Lets just think of the families and hope the court takes the correct action rather than blaming people when we don’t have all the facts.
“But it is not the fault of the Gumball organisers. They instruct everyone to obey the local laws. If these drivers did not do so they should be punished but blaming Gumball for organising the rally is like blaming Porsche for making the car!”
Yet the distance over time for each stops translate to well over local speed limit.