10 Jan 2009

Fatal collision during Dakar Rally kills two

3:52 pm on 10 January 2009

Two more people have been killed during the Dakar Rally in South America.

The deaths came after a rally support truck slammed head-on into another vehicle near Pejerreyes, some 400km north of Santiago.

The support truck, carrying tyres for rally contestants, was operated by an Argentinian company.

It was travelling with a Dakar Rally organisation logistical support car.

According to the initial police reports, Argentinian truck driver Marcelo Sanchez crossed the centre line for an unknown reason and hit the smaller oncoming vehicle.

The two occupants of the vehicle, who were Peruvian, were killed.

The famed race is being held in South America because of terrorist fears in Africa, and has already been marred by the death of French motorcyclist Pascal Terry.