On Thu, 20 Oct 2005 22:05:18 +0100, "Harry" <nospam RemoveThis @nospam.com> wrote:
>Does anyone know what the outcome was for the Michael Park tragedy in the
>Wales GB Rally? Or is it still under investigation?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4531496.stm
Thursday, 15 December 2005, 15:31 GMT
Rally driver's unexplained crash
One of the world's top rally drivers has told an inquest that he
cannot explain the crash which killed his co-driver in the Wales Rally
GB. Markko Martin described how he lost control of his Peugeot 307 car
as he travelled at up to 100mph in a rally stage at Bryn Forest near
Port Talbot.
An accidental death verdict was recorded at the inquest on Michael
Park, 39, from Newent, Gloucestershire.
He died instantly in the crash in the international rally in
September.
Estonian driver Mr Martin had partnered Mr Park since 2000 and the
pair had won five world rallies together. Mr Martin told the inquest
that he believed they were the best rally team in the world.
The inquest heard how the car crashed side-on into a tree during the
17-mile penultimate stage of the rally on 18 September.
The hearing was told that conditions were perfect, that there was no
fault with their Peugeot 307 and that there had never been an accident
at that site before.
Mr Martin said as they approached a left-hand bend he lost control of
the car which spun round and they hit a tree. He said there was
"nowhere else to go".
"I'm sure I did everything I could. In rallying you have these moments
very often. Sometimes you get away with moments like that and other
times you go off the road," he said.
Spectators immediately rushed to help father-of-two Mr Park who was
slumped in his seat.
Michael Park was on the right-hand side of the car when it hit a tree
The inquest heard that after the accident a team of rally paramedics
were on the scene within five minutes.
They worked for forty minutes to try to revive Mr Park, but he had
died instantly.
A post mortem examination concluded that he had died of multiple
injuries.
The final stages of the rally - one of Wales's biggest annual sporting
events - and planned celebrations were abandoned and a minute's
silence was held at the end of the rally in Cardiff's Millennium
Stadium later that day.
Coroner Dr David Osborne recorded a verdict of accidental death,
saying there was no mechanical faults with the car and the accident
was one of the risks associated with rallying.
Dr Osborne read a statement from Mr Park's widow who did not attend
the inquest.
She described her husband's early life as one of 10 children and how
he was a rally driver before they met which had meant spending six of
every 12 months away from home.
Markko Martin's manager Paul Turner had called her on the fateful
morning of the accident and she had "instantaneously known" something
serious had happened.
"He said 'I do not know how to tell you this'," her statement read.
"I immediately knew what he was about to explain. He then went on to
say that Michael had received fatal injuries as a result of the
accident."
She added: "I had always lived with the knowledge that something like
this could happen.
"I am thankful that when it happened he was competing in the UK closer
to home."
Outside the inquest, Paul Turner, who was Mr Park's manager and
remains Mr Martin's, said:
"Michael was a fantastic co-driver and a fantastic friend and family
man.
"He had many friends in the sport and was an all round good guy.
"It has been an incredibly difficult time for Markko, more than
anything else Mike was a close friend, they worked together for more
than six years and he obviously feels responsible.
"Markko has one of the best records of keeping the car on the road.
"He did everything he could but in that particular instance he was
unable to do enough to save Michael's life and that will always be a
huge source of regret to him."
--
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