Italian Racer Loses Part of Arm in Copter Crash

Italian Formula One driver Alessandro Nannini lost part of his arm today in a helicopter crash near his family villa.

The 31-year-old driver for the Benetton-Ford team was taken to a hospital in Florence for emergency surgery.

Nannini lost his right forearm in the accident and doctors were trying to re-attach it, a spokesman at the CTO Hospital of Careggio said.

Nannini’s life was not in danger, doctors said.

Police said the helicopter crashed while preparing to land near the Nanninis’ villa at Belriguardo, on the outskirts of Siena.

Three others who were aboard the helicopter, including the pilot, were also injured. Their conditions were not serious, police said.

The Italian news agency ANSA said the helicopter plunged to the ground from a height of about 75 feet.

Nannini finished third, behind Alain Prost and Nigel Mansell, in the last championship race at Jerez, in Spain, moving to seventh place in the championship standings.

Nannini has one victory in the 77 Grand Prix races he has entered since 1986.