China driver’s car smashes into Dakar Rally spectators, 10 hurt

A speeding car driven by Chinese driver Guo Meiling careened off the road and smashed into spectators during the prologue of the Dakar Rally, leaving at least 10 people injured, five of them seriously.

The incident, involving Guo’s Mini, saw the prologue “neutralised” and immediately suspended in horrific scenes, race organisers said.

Guo’s car veered off the course at the 6.6-kilometre mark of the 11km prologue on a stretch of straight country road near Arrecifes, a small town 200 km from the Argentine capital Buenos Aires.

Race chiefs immediately deployed four medical helicopters, three medical vehicles belonging to the organisers and eight local ambulances to the scene of the accident.

A man and his 14-year-old son were the two most serious cases and had to be rushed to hospital, Carlos Mondino, the health secretary of Arrecifes, told channel Todo Noticias.

“In total, we had 10 patients, including four children and one pregnant woman, who is OK,” said Daniel Modesto, head of the local hospital.

Etienne Lavigne, the race director, said in a statement that a dozen people were hurt, including Guo.