Four children among injured as car hits spectators on Dakar Rally
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Updated 03/01/2016 at 09:08 GMT
At least 10 people were injured, five seriously, after a car crashed into spectators on the prologue of the Dakar Rally in Argentina.
Guo Meiling of China loses control of her Mini during the Dakar Rally prologue in Argentina
Image credit: Reuters
AFP reported that a 10-year-old boy and his 34-year-old father were the most seriously hurt when Chinese driver Guo Meiling lost control of her Mini during the opening day's action from Buenos Aires to Rosario.
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Guo Meiling crashes in a cloud of dust on the Dakar Rally prologue
Image credit: Reuters
Guo ploughed into fans near the town of Arrecifes during the 11km timed prologue section, which was immediately neutralised after the crash.
Race director Etienne Lavigne said two people were in a situation of "absolute emergency", with one of the two suffering head and chest injuries. Three more people were in a state of "relative emergency", with five more suffering minor injuries.
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An injured person is taken to a helicopter after a car crashed into spectators on the Dakar Rally prologue
Image credit: Reuters
Four helicopers, three race medical vehicles and eight ambulances attended the scene as the injured were taken to hospital.
"In total, we had 10 patients, including four children and one pregnant woman, who is OK," Daniel Modesto, head of the local hospital, told AFP.
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Guo Meiling's car after crashing into spectators on the Dakar Rally prologue in Argentina
Image credit: Reuters
The race resumes on Sunday with the first full stage from Rosario to Villa Carlos Paz.
Competitors will cover over 9,000km in the Argentine and Bolivian Andes before the rally finishes back in Rosario on January 12.
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Guo Meiling of China loses control of her Mini during the Dakar Rally prologue in Argentina
Image credit: Reuters
Nine-times world rally champion Sebastien Loeb, driving a Peugeot 2008, is making his debut in the legendary endurance race.
He said: "It was important to clear the prologue and avoid any mistakes on the first day."
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Guo Meiling poses with the Chinese flag before the prologue of the Dakar Rally in Argentina
Image credit: Reuters
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