According to Vila Real's Relief Operations District Command, in statements to Lusa, the accident occurred around 4:15 pm, when the car driven by Luís Silva, after having finished its ascent from Rampa Porca da Murça, and in the deceleration zone, it still lost its way at a high speed, heading towards a large group of spectators.
Witnesses at the scene, according to Autosport, the accelerator of the driver's car, a BMW M3 (E30), will have been stuck, surprising the driver who was unable to avoid the crash. The pilot tried to immobilize the car, but its speed, around 160-170 km/h, made it impossible, unable to make a left turn, hitting the protection rails, with the consequent crash.
There were several people behind the rails, but the impact speed was so high that they were unable to prevent the car from picking up several people, with two fatalities, a man and a woman, with seven more injuries being recorded. , two of them serious — one of these is a firefighter who provided support for the test. Pilot Luís Silva suffered no injuries.
The race organizers immediately suspended it, after becoming aware of the accident.
The Murça City Council, however, has already reacted to the accident, leaving a brief note on its Facebook page addressing its most heartfelt condolences to the victims' families.
The APPAM (Portuguese Mountain Car Drivers Association) also issued a brief statement:
Joaquim Teixeira, President of APPAMFollowing the tragic accident that took place today, during the Rampa Porca de Murça, which mourned the entire family of Montanha, the APPAM Board expresses its heartfelt condolences to the victims' families and expresses its wishes for full and quick recovery to the wounded.
We also express our total solidarity and support to our associated driver Luís Silva.
We would also like to emphasize our appreciation for the rapid intervention of elements of the Humanitarian Association of Voluntary Firefighters of Murça, the soldiers of the Republican National Guard, the medical team for the intervention to the test, elements of the Organization and INEM.
Source: Autosport.
Update at 19:01: Added declarations from the Municipality of Murça.
Update at 8:06 pm: Added more information regarding the crash.