Seven dead, 20 injured in car racing accident in Sri Lanka

Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said that the deceased included an 8-year-old boy and four-track assistants, among others.

A video on social media shared by The Daily Mirror captured the chaotic scene, showing track marshals signaling to slow down following a previous accident before a red car collided with the crowd, resulting in screams of horror.

“The accident occurred when the race car lost control and collided with a group of spectators,” Thalduwa was quoted as saying.

Authorities have launched a police investigation into the incident.

The annual event marking the traditional New Year festivities came to be halted in 2019 with the Easter Sunday attack where 270 people were killed in suicide bomb attacks. Sunday’s resumption coincided with the fifth anniversary of the attack only to be halted by the tragic incident of seven deaths.