Twenty six people sustained injuries following the crash of a Porsche 918 Spyder supercar into a crowd at the Paqpaqli ghal-Istrina motor show in Malta, according to reports from the Times of Malta.
(Note: The above link to the Times of Malta report contains graphic images and videos from the event.)
Of the 26 injured, five reportedly received critical injuries and were taken to intensive care. Among those injured were the driver of the car — a professional driver, who is not in critical condition but has serious injuries — and a six-year-old girl in the audience.
The Times of Malta cited an eyewitness account, who described the incident:
“The car was speeding down the taxiway when a back wheel went on the grass. The car spun out of control, went through the barriers where a large crowd was watching, and into the area of the static car exhibition.
“Many people were hit, there was chaos and screams.”
A spokesman for event organizers told the Times of Malta that an investigation into what caused the wreck would have to occur, noting that the car or wheel possibly developed a fault with the professional driver behind the wheel.
The motor show was a fundraising event, held to raise money for community charity L-Istrina. The president of Malta, Marie Louise Coleiro, postponed a trip to the United Kingdom in order to visit the scene and victims at the hospital.
An on-board video was taken from the vehicle just a few minutes prior to the incident:
Update: The Times of Malta reports that car owner and experienced driver Paul Bailey was behind the wheel of the Porsche 918. Bailey is a multi-millionaire and businessman who also owns a McLaren P1 and LaFerrari.
Photo via the Times of Malta
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