Jalopnik: matthew mcconville

Gumball 3000 Death Trial to Begin Friday

Davey G. Johnson — Tue, 29 May 2007 21:45:00 EDT

The trial of Gumball 3000 pilots Nick Morley and Matthew McConville regarding the deaths of two Macedonians during the Athens-to-Tirana stage of the rally begins Friday. If convicted, they face at least four years in a Macedon hoosegow. We'd be fascinated to see what the difference in penalty would have been if the pair hadn't twice tried to flee the country. – Davey G. Johnson

Trial of Briton Nicholas Morley Opens Friday [Makfax vesnik via Team Polizei]

Related:
European Authorities to Crack Down on Rallying [Internal]

Russian BMW Reportedly Picked Up Morley And McConville After Deadly Gumball 3000 Hit-And-Run

Ray Wert — Thu, 03 May 2007 14:34:37 EDT

According to two sources familiar with the cross-Europe road rally, the car that picked up Nick Morley and Matthew McConville after the deadly hit-and-run incident we've been reporting on today was allegedly described as a Gumball BMW with Russian plates. That means it's more than likely the #19 Russian BMW...anyone know who was piloting it? We've got a picture of the car below the jump taken from the start of the race. Still no word from the race organizers. – Ray Wert

[Hat tip to ZeroSignal!]
[Thanks to GTSpirit for the BMW picture!]
[Thanks to Richard Blakeley on the top graphic!]

Gumball 3000 Race Organizers Attempting To Cover Up Hit-And-Run

Ray Wert — Thu, 03 May 2007 13:40:00 EDT

According to posters on the official site of the Gumball 3000 race, they've now shut down the forum and stopped answering questions about the Nick Morley and Matthew McConville hit-and-run accident we reported on earlier. One source told us over IM:

"everyone involveed has been told to shut up so im going around them, calling authorities...they tried covering the shit up, they've had 24 hours to issue a press release...and nothing of the sort...they kept it from all other gumballers too"

We'll have more as we get it, but the race organizers have yet to answer any phone calls or e-mails from yours truly. [Hat tip to ZeroSignal and the folks at GTSpirit! – Ray Wert

Gumball 3000 Official Forums Forum Index [Gumball 3000]

Gumballers Nick Morley And Matthew McConville Arrested After Hit-And-Run Fatality

Ray Wert — Thu, 03 May 2007 12:52:25 EDT

We've been covering the Gumball 3000 up to this point with good cheer, and we'd hoped it would stay that way. Unfortunately, sometimes when you mix high-powered vehicles with the double dose of stupid — adrenalin and lack of sleep — bad things can happen. Like what appears to have happened with Nick Morley and Matthew McConville who according to a report from Metro.co.uk

...have been arrested in Macedonia after an alleged hit and run incident which left one man dead and his wife fighting for her life.
The 67-year-old died on his way to hospital and his wife was in a critical condition after a Porsche taking part in the super car race crossed the road at speed and ploughed into their VW Golf...

...The drivers of the Porsche 911 Turbo Techart which Macedonian TV station A1 named as Nick Morley and Matthew McConville, allegedly got out of their crashed car and ran off.
The station said they later climbed into another car, a BMW, and tried to leave the country.

But eye witnesses alerted police and the pair were arrested at the border.

[Hat tip to Metha!] – Ray Wert

? ? [A1.com.mk via Metro.co.uk]

UPDATE: Gumball 3000 Race Organizers Attempting To Cover Up Hit-And-Run Death

UPDATE: Russian BMW Reportedly Picked Up Morley And McConville After Deadly Gumball 3000 Hit-And-Run

Related:
All our Gumball 3000 coverage [internal]