Yesterday it was announced that an Italian spectator was killed during the Dakar Rally. In a reaction, the leader of the truck classification stepped out of the race.
Ales Loprais, the leader in the truck classification, was informed on Tuesday evening that he was involved in the fatal accident. Loprais himself had not noticed the incident and had simply continued on his way. In a statement on Facebook, Loprais said that he no longer participates in the Dakar Rally.
The spectator was hidden in the dunes to take pictures. Loprais would have driven over a dune and not have seen the 69-year-old man. The man who was hit would have been able to stand up, but would not have felt well a few hours later and was taken to hospital. The man died of a heart attack on the way to the hospital.
“I want to express my sincere condolences to his family and friends. I’m very sorry. I will have to carry this accident with me for the rest of my life,” Loprais said in a video.