Words by

Iryna Zubenko

Photo by

Joana Fontinha

Two women were run over by a car during a rallycross competition in Hafnarfjörður on Saturday, reports RÚV.

The women, aged 20 and 21, are now recovering from broken bones and sprains. Both have previously worked at the track, and one is a former competitor. The Capital Area Police are investigating the circumstances of the accident.

“They escaped incredibly well from this accident. One was discharged last night and the other remains under observation,” reads a statement from Linda Daggar Jóhannsdóttir and Ari Halldór Hjaltason, chairman and vice-chairman of the Hafnarfjörður Motorsport Club (AÍH).

“We at the Hafnarfjörður Motorsport Club are deeply saddened by the accident that occurred yesterday, where a vehicle landed on two staff members,” the statement continues. “It can be considered a miracle that it didn’t end worse.” Many staff members and witnesses took Red Cross crisis counselling yesterday, including the driver.

Linda and Ari say that procedures will now be reviewed, stressing that the top priority is preventing accidents. At the time of the incident, everything had been carried out according to procedure, and all staff were in the correct positions. They add that the emergency response on site after the accident was “ten out of ten,” with a paramedic and a medical officer from AÍH present.

Between three and five competitions are held on the track each year. The statement notes that no staff injuries have ever occurred before. Competition cars do sometimes roll over in certain spots on the track, “but nothing like this.”

“In all our minds, this is a very surreal event. That this happened, and could happen. You cannot prevent everything — you do your best. This was absolutely an event that no one saw coming, and nothing like it has ever come close to happening before. Safety in motorsport is in constant development, and we are always reviewing and revising processes. This incident will be thoroughly examined, and every effort made to prevent such or similar accidents involving staff from ever happening again,” Linda and Ari said in the statement.