1955 Le Mans crash

[gareth_oau]

Was just reading my Motor magazine describing the 1955 Le Mans 24 hours race where Mercedes Works driver Pierre Levegh was involved in a crash.

his car crashed into a slower Austin Healey, launched into an earth bank (like a safety fence) and disintegrated, with bits of car flying into the packed grandstand.

the car's front axle and engine tore free clubbing people to death and the bonnet decapitated several spectators as it sliced through the crowd.

In total Levegh and 83 spectators were killed, along with another 120 injured.

Its regarded as the worst mortor racing incident in history and Mercedes withdrew from motorsport altogether and did not return until the 1980s.

YouTube - Worst Crash Ever - 24 Hours of Le Mans - 1955 (HD)

[Water Boy]

Geeeeeeee...

[elephino]

That crash also prompted the banning of motorsport in numerous countries.