Three members of Dakar Rally team injured in crash (From Worcester News)

Three members of Dakar Rally team injured in crash

12:30pm Thursday 10th January 2013 in News By Neil Watts

THREE members of the Race2Recovery Dakar Rally team have been badly injured following a serious crash in Peru.

The incident happened when a Land Rover Defender team support vehicle crashed head-on when travelling in town of Tacna, in Peru, near the Chilean border.

Among the injured are Corporal Tom Neathway’s driver, Justin Birchall, along with former Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer and Gulf War and Falklands war veteran Lee Townsend and retired Army Major John Winskill.

Their injuries were described as non-life threatening and they were said to be stable and conscious in a Lima hospital.

Two other vehicles were involved in the incident which killed two people and injured others.

Team leader, Captain Tony Harris, said: “Our hearts go out to the families and relatives of those who have died in this tragic accident and we offer them our condolences and sympathy.

"Our entire team has been struck by the friendliness and support we have received from the Peruvian people since arriving for the Dakar Rally.”

Captain Harris said the team had unanimously agreed to continue the challenge with the two remaining Wildcat vehicles.

 

He added: “The team decided before we even started that we would continue our endeavour.

"This is obviously a huge shock but we know that we have the blessing of the injured. They want the team to finish."

The accident is being investigated by the local police in Peru and the team is being supported by the race organisers.