Go-kart tragedy: Spectators weren’t supposed to be at site
Education Innovation Motorsports and Automotive Race (Eimarace) director Aminudin Abu says scene of the tragedy was off limits to spectators.
Education Innovation Motorsports and Automotive Race (Eimarace) director Aminudin Abu said the scene of the tragedy was off limits to spectators.
He also said Rela members were stationed at the site and cones placed at strategic points as it was part of the requirements of the race.
Members of the public however he said, were supposed to have watched the race at the Indera Mahkota Sukpa Complex.
“We informed the people about this but we did not expect them to go there,” he was quoted by the Malay daily as saying.
Izwan Isa, 39 and his four-year old daughter were killed yesterday after a 131cc engine go-kart veered off the track and crashed through barriers before hitting them and other spectators at a go-kart racing event in Kuantan yesterday.
Izwan’s wife and son were also injured along with several other spectators.
According to witnesses, the driver of the go-kart lost control of the machine when attempting to overtake another, before crashing into the crowd.
Aminudin said this was the first time a fatal accident had occurred during the race, and vowed to stop using open circuits for future tournaments.
“We have also called off the race.”
Meanwhile UTM, the organisers of the race, said it had taken all necessary safety precautions at the event.
Its vice-chancellor Prof Wahid Omar pointed out that water barriers and safety tape partitions were set up at the race, while security personnel were also on hand.
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He explained the safety precautions undertaken were in line with the recommendations of the Motorsports Association of Malaysia (MAM), the body which manages motoring sports in the country.