Fatal Accident At Rally In Western Australia

[RaceTime]

CONFEDERATION OF AUSTRALIAN MOTOR SPORT (CAMS)
CAMS STATEMENT
26 October 2003



FATAL ACCIDENT AT RALLY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA


A motor sport competitor has died in an accident during a motor rally near Harvey, 300 kilometres south of Perth, yesterday afternoon.


As a result of the accident, one competitor has died, two competitors were air lifted to a Perth hospital and one competitor was transferred to Bunbury Hospital.


The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) will establish a tribunal to investigate the incident. In the meantime, CAMS and event officials are working with the relevant civil authorities as required.


CAMS has mobilised its chaplaincy and counselling services for the relatives of the deceased and injured competitors and for competitors and officials involved in the event.


CAMS, on behalf of the motor sport community, offers its sincere sympathy to the families involved.

[harderfaster]

Very unfortunate.

Obviously a collision due to four drivers involved.

Sounds like someone wasn't doing their job.

Could be some very, very serious consequences from this.

[Dirk]

Don't say that, That would mean big insurance claims!

our thoughts go out to the families. It always tragic to loose someone from the sport.

[fordlover]

condolences to their families. it has not been a good year for deaths in motorsport.

[Wizzby]

Yeah, it was very poor management on the organisers behalf. What actually happened was that a lot of cars were making a wrong turn as a temporary barricade had fallen over and had to make a u-turn back the other way. There was just too much dust to see anything, and two cars hit.

[RaceTime]

Areyou talking competitive cars, spectators/officials or a combination here?

[harderfaster]

two competitors cars.

[harderfaster]

CONFEDERATION OF AUSTRALIAN MOTOR SPORT (CAMS)
STATEMENT
28 October 2003

For Immediate Release


UPDATE ON WA RALLY INCIDENT

As announced by CAMS President Colin Osborne on Sunday, CAMS has now
established an investigation into the fatal rally accident near Harvey,
Western Australia, on the afternoon of Saturday 25 October.

Mr Garry Connelly, Chairman of the Australian Rally Commission, today
announced the composition of that investigatory panel.

"Ed Ordynski, leading driver and former Australian Rally Champion, will
act as Chairman of the investigatory panel and will be assisted by
Adrian Stafford, Telstra Rally Australia Clerk of Course, and Greg
Gaunt, Managing Partner (Perth office) of Phillips Fox Lawyers," said
Connelly.

"The investigatory panel will work to determine the sequence of events
that led to the incident and what procedures, if any, can be implemented
to ensure that such an incident does not happen again."

It is expected that it will take some time to gather all relevant
information and interview the appropriate parties. Any recommended
changes to procedures will be announced in due course. Members of the
investigatory panel will not be making any public comment throughout the
course of the investigation.

The three competitors injured in the incident are in Royal Perth
Hospital. All three are in a stable condition.

Grant Williams, 27, from Dianella, sustained internal injuries, Harleigh
Uren, 24, from Bayswater, sustained a serious neck injury and Nicholas
Box, 22, from Yokine, sustained injuries to his ankle and spleen as well
as cuts and bruises.

The deceased competitor was Paul Bazzica, 37, from Bedfordale.

The CAMS community would like to express its deepest sympathy to Paul's
wife, Liz Bazzica, and his family and send its best wishes to the three
injured men and their families.

Motor sport Chaplain, Terry Dorrington, will hold a get-together at the
WA Car Clubrooms this evening for rally competitors, event officials and
others involved in the incident.

[Wizzby]

Adrian Stafford will do a good job investigating this, he hates complacency

[RaceTime]

There is one problem with your statement - he is NOT the complete investigating tribunal and it doesn't really matter what they come up with - ultimately this will be a coronial enquiry with evidence presented by the Police, CAMS, event officials and competitors.