Elizabeth Allan, John Leonard Stern & John Provan's Fatal Crash @ Jim Clark Rally 2014 (Aftermath)
- 7 months ago
A fatal accident that resulted in the deaths of three spectators and a fourth seriously injured, occurred at approximately 16h30 on Saturday, 31 May 2014, during the 16th of 18 stages of the "Jim Clark National Rally", third round of the 2014 British Rally Championship.
The Citroën DS3 R3T #7, reg. plate number KR900PC competing in the Citroën Racing Trophy UK, driven by Irishman David Carney, 29-year-old, from Westport, Co. Mayo, with co-driver Rae Fitzpatrick aboard as navigator, went out of control after jumping over the Leet Bridge, a small humpback bridge near to the village of Swinton, Scottish Borders Region. The car slewed and skidded on the road, then became airborne on contact with the asphalt on the north side of the bridge, before leaving the road at high speed and entering a field sideways, crashing into a group of spectators. Although a dozen of spectators were able to escape, the car hit four people. Three of them received fatal injuries from which they were pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the deceased persons, John Leonard Stern, 71-year-old, of Bearsden in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, was an authorised and registered photographer at the event. He had been a race car driver in his younger days.
The other two victims were Iain John Provan, 64, and his partner Elizabeth Allan, known as Betty, 63, both from Barrhead, near Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. The fourth injured person, Donald Martin, a resident of the greater Glasgow area, aged 61, was believed to be a relative to them. He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was listed in critical condition.
The co-driver in the next rally car on the scene, which arrived within almost one minute, was Melanie Holmes, a qualified nurse. Her driver Gus Greensmith parked the Ford Fiesta R1 and she got off her car, taking control of the situation. She assessed the four victims and gave directions to the attempted resuscitation efforts, including to Mr. Martin.
After the tragedy, the 16th special stage was immediately stopped and the remaining two stages of the rally were abandoned. The organizers of the Reivers Rally, to be held the following day, decided to cancel the event in sign of mourning.
The accident was the second involving spectators to occur during the event. At about 14h00 four men and one woman were injured while spectating the rally near the village of Eccles, when hit by a rally competitor's car. One of the five was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the others were treated at Borders General Hospital.
R.I.P
The Citroën DS3 R3T #7, reg. plate number KR900PC competing in the Citroën Racing Trophy UK, driven by Irishman David Carney, 29-year-old, from Westport, Co. Mayo, with co-driver Rae Fitzpatrick aboard as navigator, went out of control after jumping over the Leet Bridge, a small humpback bridge near to the village of Swinton, Scottish Borders Region. The car slewed and skidded on the road, then became airborne on contact with the asphalt on the north side of the bridge, before leaving the road at high speed and entering a field sideways, crashing into a group of spectators. Although a dozen of spectators were able to escape, the car hit four people. Three of them received fatal injuries from which they were pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the deceased persons, John Leonard Stern, 71-year-old, of Bearsden in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland, was an authorised and registered photographer at the event. He had been a race car driver in his younger days.
The other two victims were Iain John Provan, 64, and his partner Elizabeth Allan, known as Betty, 63, both from Barrhead, near Glasgow, East Renfrewshire, Scotland. The fourth injured person, Donald Martin, a resident of the greater Glasgow area, aged 61, was believed to be a relative to them. He was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary where he was listed in critical condition.
The co-driver in the next rally car on the scene, which arrived within almost one minute, was Melanie Holmes, a qualified nurse. Her driver Gus Greensmith parked the Ford Fiesta R1 and she got off her car, taking control of the situation. She assessed the four victims and gave directions to the attempted resuscitation efforts, including to Mr. Martin.
After the tragedy, the 16th special stage was immediately stopped and the remaining two stages of the rally were abandoned. The organizers of the Reivers Rally, to be held the following day, decided to cancel the event in sign of mourning.
The accident was the second involving spectators to occur during the event. At about 14h00 four men and one woman were injured while spectating the rally near the village of Eccles, when hit by a rally competitor's car. One of the five was taken to the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, the others were treated at Borders General Hospital.
R.I.P