2 Spectators Killed, 28 Hurt in Portuguese Road Rally

A Portuguese woman and her 11-year-old son were killed, and 28 other persons were injured Wednesday when a car plowed into a crowd of spectators shortly after the start of a road rally at Estoril, Portugal. The accident prompted top drivers to abandon the rally, expressing concern over safety conditions.

Drivers of factory teams in the prestigious event, the second on the world rally circuit this year, issued a statement saying they would not stay in the race because of crowding of the course by unpoliced spectators.

Portuguese driver Joaquim Santos lost control of his Ford RS 200 on a curve two miles into the five-day, 1,544-mile rally.

“I had to swerve to avoid a spectator in the road and lost control,” Santos said. “I ran into the crowd at the next curve, and people were coming into the car from all directions.”