Four people died and eight were injured on 24 March 2024 when a rally car left the road and drove into spectators in northern Hungary. The numbers come from the Hungarian motorsport federation, MNASZ, and they have not changed in the reporting since.
DirtFish reported that the car, believed to be a Škoda Fabia Rally2, went off at high speed on stage five of the Esztergom-Nyerges Rally, the Lábatlan to Bajna stage. It was the second day of the event, the 11th edition. Organizers called off the race.
What officials said
Hungarian police put the time as early afternoon and called it a “fatal mass accident” between Lábatlan and Bajót. A vehicle in the rally, they said, “drifted off the road for an unknown reason and drove into spectators.”
MNASZ described the emergency response: eight ambulances and four rescue helicopters. Its statement gave the condition of those taken to hospital. One child had life-threatening injuries, one person had serious injuries, and six people, including a child, had minor injuries. Sky News, cited by Jalopnik, said two children were among the injured.
The federation said it would investigate with the authorities and that it was the authorities’ responsibility to clarify the circumstances. Until that work is done, MNASZ and the organizers will give no further statements. In its words, the management extended condolences to the families.
Cause still open
Jalopnik reported that the car reportedly lost traction, but also noted that the reason for the sudden loss of grip had not been identified. Police likewise gave no cause. Nothing in the early reports says whether the road, the car, the speed or the placement of spectators played a part.
Those are questions for the investigation.
Sources
- Four Spectators Killed After Rally Car Spins Off Track In Hungary
- Four dead in accident at Hungarian rally – DirtFish
