On Sunday, March 24, 2024, a tragic rally car accident in northwest Hungary resulted in four fatalities and eight injuries.
The crash occurred during the Esztergom-Nyerges rally circuit. The race abruptly ended when a competitor’s vehicle lost control, veered off the road, and crashed into a crowd of spectators. Social media videos captured the car skidding off the road and smashing into the crowd, causing a cloud of dust.
The incident took place on a competition route between Labatlan and Bajot, adjacent to the Danube River, according to the Komarom-Esztergom County police department.
A witness reported that the vehicle, a Skoda Fabia R5, experienced difficulties just before a speed-reducing zone while speeding from Lábatlan. The car became uncontrollable, striking nearby spectators. The out-of-control car then crashed into a construction company’s fence about 20 feet from the road.
Whether the spectators were in a restricted area remains unclear. The event’s press officer, Kata Répásy, stated that staff routinely patrol certain zones that are off-limits to spectators at every rally stage. She noted that this event was the season’s first and may have attracted an unusually large crowd, rumored to be more than a thousand people, although this number is not officially confirmed. She stressed the challenge of tracking everyone’s location during the event.
Eight ambulances and four helicopters were immediately dispatched to the scene. Among the injured were two individuals, including a child, who sustained serious injuries. Six others, one of whom is a child, received treatment for less severe injuries.
The local police are still investigating the cause of the accident. The race was suspended immediately following the crash, and bystanders and event organizers provided first aid to the injured until professional medical help arrived.
This incident has stirred conversations within the rally racing community regarding the effectiveness of safety protocols during such events. The ongoing investigation seeks to understand the factors leading to the crash to prevent similar incidents in the future.
The Hungarian National Motorsport Association expressed its sympathies to the victims’ families. The association is collaborating with officials to examine the details of the accident and has chosen not to comment further until the investigation is complete.