Another Year, Another Tragedy
Courtesy news.com.au
Feb 25, 2008
THEY had come together to pray for a miracle but in the end the petitions of 90,000 motorsport fans went unanswered.
The Australian motor racing community was yesterday in mourning following the death of Ashley Cooper, 27.
The father-of-two, from Ulladulla on the South Coast, died of brain and internal injuries sustained during a high-speed crash at Saturday’s Clipsal 500 meeting in Adelaide.
His parents, three siblings and partner Casey were at his bedside when he died in Royal Adelaide Hospital at 1pm.
The couple’s two children - Ella, 5, and Bailey, 3, were being cared for by family in Ulladulla.
On Sunday afternoon fans at the V8 Supercar event were asked to stand in silence as chaplain Garry Coleman led a prayer dedicated to Cooper, who was given an emergency tracheotomy at the crash scene.
Sporting chiefs were yesterday left to defend their safety record and the Adelaide street circuit as they paid tribute to him.
Cooper was competing in the Fujitsu Series, a V8 Supercar support category, when he slammed his VZ Commodore into a concrete barrier as he exited the street circuit’s fastest turn at more than 200km/h.
V8 Supercars chief executive Wayne Cattach said a preliminary look at crash footage suggested Cooper’s car might have clipped the guard rail on entry to the corner.
There was nothing to indicate failure of the seat, his roll cage, seat belt or other safety systems.
Comments on "Another Year, Another Tragedy"
You must be a member to post a comment. Please login using the form below or register.
