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26 People Injured After Porsche 918 Crashed into Spectators at Supercar Event in Malta

Up-to-date reports from the Maltese media suggest as many as 26 people were injured in the crash of a Porsche 918 Spyder at a supercar show taking place on October 4th.
26 People Injured After Porsche 918 Crashed into Spectators at Supercar Event in Malta 1 photo
Photo: Reddit user scar0030
The event was organized on a makeshift track created on the Malta International Airport. Witnesses say the German hypercar spun after clipping the grass with its right rear wheel and lost control at high speed.

The first video we're showing you suggests the plastic barriers were not properly filled with water, thus being incapable of slowing the speeding machine. Moments after spinning out of control, the 887 horsepower Porsche crashes into the crowd gathered to see it.

An eyewitness told Times of Malta: "The car was speeding down the taxiway when a back wheel went on the grass. The car spun out of control, went through the barriers where a large crowd was watching, and into the area of the static car exhibition. Many people were hit, there was chaos and screams."

26 people were injured, and five are in critical condition, having sustained life-threatening injuries. 19 were admitted to the Mater Dei Hospital, among them a mother and her young daughter, and the rest received treatment at the Paola heath center.

The incident took place this Sunday at around 4 PM local time on Park 4 of the airport in Hal Farrug. This crash was so severe that the 918 Spyder ended up in a display area after plowing throw the entire crowd.
We've seen plenty of motorsport tragedies involving spectators where the car flew over a concrete barrier. But we can't help but think that the Maltese carnage could have been lessened if those flimsy plastic barriers were filled with water like they were supposed to.

All forms of motorsport are inherently dangerous, but organizers need to do everything they can to reduce risks. Is a stunt driving competition with Miatas okay? Probably. But an autocross event on a disused runway where a hypercar can easily reach 100 mph… not so much.

Here is a joyride video taken only three minutes before the crash. Experienced driver and owner Paul Bailey is behind the wheel, and he was among the 26 people that were treated for injuries.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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