Mull Rally fatality 10 | 10 | 2015
RALLYING IN SCOTLAND suffered another black day today when a competitor in the Mull Rally was killed in a crash on the second day of the event held on the Inner Hebridean island.
Co-driver Andrew Mort died when the Subaru Impreza he was competing in, driven by close friend John MacCrone, crashed on the second of today's scheduled 13 stages. Both driver and co-driver lived in Dervaig on the island.
The duo, who started the second Leg of the rally in third place after a series of impressive drives through the opening five stages on Friday night, were poised to challenge overnight leader Calum Duffy.
MacCrone, the 26-year-old who won the Mull Rally in 2013 and who was airlifted to the hospital in Glasgow with injuries, is acknowledged as being one of Scotland brightest young rally stars.
Immediately following the tragic incident, the organisers of the event and Police Scotland confirmed the event had been abandoned.
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A spokesman for the organisers of the event, which had a record-equalling 150 entries from all over the UK, confirmed: "One competitor has died and another injured in an incident on the Mull Rally.
"The competitor who has tragically died was a co-driver. His driver was injured and has been transferred to a hospital. Nobody else was involved in the incident.
"The event organisers and relevant authorities are working closely with Police Scotland to establish precisely what happened.
"The organisers of the event are deeply saddened by this tragic incident and send their condolences to the family and friends of the co-driver, and offer their best wishes to the driver for a full recovery.
"We will be making no further statement at this time."
Sergeant Archie McGuire of Argyll and West Dunbartonshire Divisional Road Policing Unit, who is leading the inquiry, said today:
"For the spectators and participants of the annual Mull Rally, this has been a desperately saddening event. We are working closely with the event organisers in investigating the incident.
“Specialist officers are at the scene and have begun the process of determining the circumstances which have led to this crash.
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“We thank those who have been in contact with police at the scene to pass on information and to give statements. We would ask for anyone else who has not yet given a statement to contact officers at the Road Policing Unit at Dumbarton on the 101 number. We would be grateful to receive any mobile phone footage that spectators may have as part of our ongoing enquiries."
The fatality is the first in the Mull Rally — one of the most iconic rallies in the world, and held on closed-off public tarmac roads — for 12 years.
In 2003, co-driver Susan Cameron (46), from Laurencekirk in Aberdeenshire, was killed when she was involved in a crash in the Peugeot 205 being driven by her 45-year-old husband, Duncan. He was not injured.
The latest death is also the first following the findings of the Scottish Government's review of motorsport spectator safety which was implemented after the death of three people on the Jim Clark Rally in June 2014.
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Jim McGill