Spectators injured in two crashes at Oliver’s Mount

A NUMBER of spectators were injured in two separate crashes at crash at Oliver’s Mount yesterday.

The road racing event was cancelled and two casualties airlifted to hospital after the second crash at around 1.45pm.

Both crashes happened at the same spot, known as Drury's Hairpin.

The first, at around 10.45am, saw a reported six people injured when a bike left the course during a qualifying session.

Three casualties were taken to hospital by ambulance, two of them airlifted. One was said to be seriously injured. The rider was treated at the scene.

At least another three people were injured when a bike went through a fence and hit spectators in the second crash.

All three – the rider and two spectators – were taken to hospital.

Organisers of the Scarborough road race said: ‘Today we have had two serious incidents involving a number of spectators.

‘In view of the seriousness of these incidents and our requirements to call on outside assistance to help with this treatment, we have reluctantly taken the advice of everyone concerned and have decided to cancel the rest of the meeting.

‘We sincerely apologise to you all for taking this decision and hope you will understand our difficulties in this unprecedented situation.’

Jamie Coward, the rider in the first crash, tweeted afterward: ‘Really sorry to spectators involved in my accident today there was nothing I could have done I'm very upset and shaken after whats happened.’

A third rider, Brad Vicars, was ‘badly hurt’ in a crash on Saturday, his sponsor Silkolene wrote on Twitter.

Really sorry to spectators involved in my accident today there was nothing I could have done I'm very upset and shaken after whats happened

— Jamie Coward (@JCowardRacing) September 24, 2017

One of our sponsored riders, Brad Vicars, was badly hurt during a race at Oliver's Mount yesterday. Our best wishes to Brad and his family.

— Silkolene (@fuchs_silkolene) September 24, 2017