A rally car crash in the northwest region of Hungary resulted in four fatalities and eight injuries on Sunday, March 24, 2024.

The incident occurred during the Esztergom-Nyerges rally race and was triggered when a car lost control, veered off the road, and struck a crowd of spectators. Footage of the accident circulated on social media, shows the vehicle skidding off the track and plowing into the bystanders, creating a cloud of dust.

Komarom-Esztergom County’s police department confirmed the accident took place during a competition route between the towns of Labatlan and Bajot, located near the Danube River.

An eyewitness reported that the Skoda Fabia R5 car was speeding from Labatlan when it encountered issues right before a speed-reducing zone. The vehicle became uncontrollable and hit nearby spectators. It then crashed into a construction company’s fence approximately 20 feet from the roadside.

It remains unclear whether the spectators were in a restricted area. Kata Répásy, the event’s press officer, stated that all rally stages have specific areas off-limits to spectators, which are regularly patrolled by staff. As this event marked the start of the season, it might have attracted an unusually large crowd—possibly over a thousand people. However, Répásy noted the difficulty of tracking every attendee’s location during such events.

Emergency response units, including eight ambulances and four helicopters, were swiftly dispatched to the site. Among the injured were two individuals—one of them a child—who sustained severe injuries. Six others, including another child, were treated for less serious injuries.

According to the police in Komarom-Esztergom County, the accident’s cause remains under investigation. The race was immediately halted, and bystanders and event organizers rushed to provide first aid to the injured before professional medical help arrived.

This incident has prompted discussions in the rally racing community about the application and efficiency of safety measures during such events. The current investigation aims to understand the chain of events leading to the accident to prevent similar occurrences in the future.

The Hungarian National Motorsport Association has expressed its condolences to the families of the deceased. The association is cooperating with officials to examine the details of the accident and will not make any statements until the investigation is concluded.