Track Marshal Dies After Canadian Grand Prix F1 Race

by Amy Johnson, Managing Editor, HockeyPub.com

MONTREAL, QC — A picture-perfect day of Formula 1 racing in Montreal took a tragic turn after the checkered flag had been waved.  Following the race, crews worked to remove Estaban Gutierrez’s Sauban car from

(Photo by THE CANADIAN PRESS/Tom Boland)

the track after it failed to finish the race.  A volunteer track marshal was walking alongside the car, helping to stabilize it as a crane lifted it to the pit area.  According to F1 spokesman Matteo Bonciani, the worker dropped his radio and, while bending down to pick it up, stumbled and fell into the path of the mobile crane.

The marshal, who had reportedly been a volunteer at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve for about ten years, was flown by helicopter to Sacre-Coeur Hospital where he later died from his injuries.  The FIA issued a statement sending out their condolences to the victim’s family and friends.

Here’s  the official statement from FIA:

“The FIA is sad to announce the death of a Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada circuit worker, at 6:02 pm.

The worker, a member of the Automobile Club de l’Ile Notre Dame, was the victim of an unfortunate accident that occurred at the end of this afternoon’s Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada. The worker was helping to recover a car which had stopped during the race. The recovery vehicle had lifted the car to return it to the pits and while doing this the worker dropped his radio and attempted to pick it up. As he did this, he stumbled and was hit and run over by the recovery vehicle.

The worker was transported via helicopter to Sacre-Coeur Hospital where he was treated by the traumatology department of Dr Ronald Denis, Deputy Chief Medical Officer and Dr Jacques Bouchard, Chief Medical Officer of the Grand Prix. Unfortunately, the worker succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

The FIA, l’Automobile Club de l’Ile Notre-Dame and the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada want to communicate their deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim. The identity of the worker cannot be revealed at this time.”

Tags: accident, Canadian Grand Prix, Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve, F1, Montreal, race