Two killed in Dakar Rally crash

Two people were killed and three members of a British team badly injured in a crash in Peru on the fifth day of the Dakar rally, which is claimed by main as the world’s toughest race.

The collision is reported to have involved two taxis, one of which was hit, killing the driver and passenger, while the other turned many times while trying to avoid the accident.

The three British members of the team, Race2Recovery, were identified as Justin Birchall, a team driver from Burnley, Lancashire, Gulf and War and Falklands war veteran Lee Townsend, from Bristol, and later flown to a hospital in Lima, where they are reported to be “stable and conscious” with injuries that were described as “non-life-threatening”.

The other passengers from the taxi are also being looked after in the hospital.

Tony Harris, the team leader said, “Our hearts go out to the families and relatives of those who have died in this tragic accident and we offer them our condolences and sympathy.

Captain Harris, the team leader, said that the team will continue the race.

The team decided before we even started that we would continue our endeavour. This is obviously a huge shock but we know that we have the blessing of the injured. They want the team to finish.”