Chienipoego
Group: Soldier
Posts: 1
Joined: Sep. 2007
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Posted on: Sep. 19 2007,15:02 |
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British rally driver Colin McRae killed in helicopter crash
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Air accident investigators today started examining the wreckage of a helicopter crash believed to have killed former world champion rally driver Colin McRae and three other people.
Strathclyde Police said that the 39-year-old star was believed to be on board the aircraft, which crashed near his home at Jerviswood, near Lanark yesterday afternoon.
There were three others on board the Squirrel when it burst into flames at around 4.10pm, with no survivors.
Officers said they were hoping the formal identities of the victims could be confirmed later today.
Police have remained at the scene throughout the night where a thorough search of the area was continuing today.
A team from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) arrived from Farnborough in Hampshire overnight and were at the scene at first light today.
They are carrying out a full investigation into the cause of the crash.
A spokesman for Strathclyde Police said this morning: "We will be working in tandem with investigators from the AAIB.
"A team from Farnborough will be at the scene at first light.
"We are hoping to be in a position to confirm the identities of those involved later today."
Police cordoned off the area, including a private road up to the McRae family house which is set in several acres of ground.
McRae, a licensed pilot who owns a helicopter, is married to Alison and has two children Hollie and Johnny.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch has been informed.
McRae became the first Briton to win the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1995 and hails from a well-known motor racing family in Scotland.
His father, Jimmy, is a five-time British rally champion and his brother, Alister, is also former British rally champion.
As well as winning the world championship driving a Subaru in 1995, Colin was runner-up in 1996, 1997 and 2001.
It was reported today that McRae's agent Jean-Eric Freudiger said McRae had been piloting the helicopter.
McRae's friend, rally journalist Jeremy Hart also told The Sunday Times that the driver was a "very good, very measured pilot whose natural ability with machinery was second to none".
He said McRae regularly flew all over the UK and into Europe.
"He knew the terrain and conditions at Jerviswood very well. It was the place he flew into most regularly."
He described his friend as "the Michael Schumacher of rally driving".
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