Fatal crash causes cancellation of Gumball 3000 rally
#1
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Fatal crash causes cancellation of Gumball 3000 rally
Fatal crash causes cancellation of Gumball 3000 rally
*source
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...072330,00.html
My heart goes out to the Cepuljoski family
Friday May 4, 2007
The Guardian
The Gumball 3000 rally was cancelled last night after two British drivers were involved in a fatal road accident in Macedonia during the race.
Nicholas Morley, 30, and Matthew McConville, 32, were driving a Porsche 911 in the 3,000 mile race across Europe when they collided with 67-year-old Vladimir Cepuljoski and his wife Margarita, near Struga, 120 miles from Skopje yesterday.
Mr Cepuljoski, who was not taking part in the race, died of a heart attack in hospital.
The Britons were arrested on provisional charges of endangering traffic and abandoning an accident victim, a police spokesman said, which could lead to a one-year prison sentence.
"Two British citizens left the scene of the accident," a Macedonian police spokesman, said. "Shortly afterwards, border authorities found them in another [vehicle] at the Qafasan border crossing with Albania."
Organisers of the race, dubbed the "world's maddest, fastest and most eccentric", cancelled the event a day early in Bratislava. "As the organisers of the rally we feel that it should be stopped as a mark of respect to Vladimir Cepuljoski who died today after an accident involving one of the participating drivers," Maximillion Cooper, the founder of the rally, said.
"We are very saddened by what has happened and feel that it would be wrong to continue ... This is the first time anything like this has happened in nine years of travelling through over 40 countries with thousands of drivers and it is with deep regret that I make this announcement."
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that two Britons have been involved in a road traffic accident. We have been in contact and are providing appropriate assistance."
The Gumball 3000, frequented by the rich and famous, was created by ex-model Cooper eight years ago when he invited 50 of his friends and acquaintances to take part in a race. This year's events was to pass through 16 countries before ending in London on Saturday.
With a £28,000 entrance fee and a celebration at Hugh Hefner's house for those who complete the event, the race has attracted high profile spectators such as Kate Moss and Guy Ritchie as well as participants including model Jodie Kidd and actor Adrien Brody. Kidd met her now estranged husband, internet entrepreneur Aidan Butler, on the 2004 rally and the couple were engaged eight weeks later.
This year's drivers are said to include model Caprice, Skins actor Danny Dyer and Jamiroquai's Jay Kay.
The Guardian
The Gumball 3000 rally was cancelled last night after two British drivers were involved in a fatal road accident in Macedonia during the race.
Nicholas Morley, 30, and Matthew McConville, 32, were driving a Porsche 911 in the 3,000 mile race across Europe when they collided with 67-year-old Vladimir Cepuljoski and his wife Margarita, near Struga, 120 miles from Skopje yesterday.
Mr Cepuljoski, who was not taking part in the race, died of a heart attack in hospital.
The Britons were arrested on provisional charges of endangering traffic and abandoning an accident victim, a police spokesman said, which could lead to a one-year prison sentence.
"Two British citizens left the scene of the accident," a Macedonian police spokesman, said. "Shortly afterwards, border authorities found them in another [vehicle] at the Qafasan border crossing with Albania."
Organisers of the race, dubbed the "world's maddest, fastest and most eccentric", cancelled the event a day early in Bratislava. "As the organisers of the rally we feel that it should be stopped as a mark of respect to Vladimir Cepuljoski who died today after an accident involving one of the participating drivers," Maximillion Cooper, the founder of the rally, said.
"We are very saddened by what has happened and feel that it would be wrong to continue ... This is the first time anything like this has happened in nine years of travelling through over 40 countries with thousands of drivers and it is with deep regret that I make this announcement."
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We can confirm that two Britons have been involved in a road traffic accident. We have been in contact and are providing appropriate assistance."
The Gumball 3000, frequented by the rich and famous, was created by ex-model Cooper eight years ago when he invited 50 of his friends and acquaintances to take part in a race. This year's events was to pass through 16 countries before ending in London on Saturday.
With a £28,000 entrance fee and a celebration at Hugh Hefner's house for those who complete the event, the race has attracted high profile spectators such as Kate Moss and Guy Ritchie as well as participants including model Jodie Kidd and actor Adrien Brody. Kidd met her now estranged husband, internet entrepreneur Aidan Butler, on the 2004 rally and the couple were engaged eight weeks later.
This year's drivers are said to include model Caprice, Skins actor Danny Dyer and Jamiroquai's Jay Kay.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/st...072330,00.html
My heart goes out to the Cepuljoski family
#3
Loves Snickerdoodles!
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From what I've gathered from various sources online...It appears that this was a hit and run incident and there was an attempt to cover it up
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#5
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Issued by Maximillion Cooper on behalf of The Gumball 3000 Rally -
21.30 / 03 May 2007
Following our earlier release reporting yesterday’s accident - As a
sign of respect we have decided that this year's Gumball 3000 Rally will
not travel any further and will end in Bratislava this evening, May 3rd
2007.
As the organisers of the rally we feel that it should be stopped as a
mark of respect to Vladimir Cepulyoski who died today after an accident
involving one the participating drivers.
We are very saddened by what has happened and feel that it would be
wrong to continue. On behalf of Gumball 3000, we once again extend our
deepest sympathies to his family and we are doing everything we can for
them.
This is the first time anything like this has happened in 9 years of
travelling through over 40 countries with 1000's of drivers and it is
with deep regret that I make this announcement.
Maximillion Cooper
Founder & CEO
The Gumball 3000 Group
================END PRESS RELEASE====================
Now that im being considered to race in the actual BULLRUN Rally this year..in a few days
....not a good time to read news like this
RIP
21.30 / 03 May 2007
Following our earlier release reporting yesterday’s accident - As a
sign of respect we have decided that this year's Gumball 3000 Rally will
not travel any further and will end in Bratislava this evening, May 3rd
2007.
As the organisers of the rally we feel that it should be stopped as a
mark of respect to Vladimir Cepulyoski who died today after an accident
involving one the participating drivers.
We are very saddened by what has happened and feel that it would be
wrong to continue. On behalf of Gumball 3000, we once again extend our
deepest sympathies to his family and we are doing everything we can for
them.
This is the first time anything like this has happened in 9 years of
travelling through over 40 countries with 1000's of drivers and it is
with deep regret that I make this announcement.
Maximillion Cooper
Founder & CEO
The Gumball 3000 Group
================END PRESS RELEASE====================
Now that im being considered to race in the actual BULLRUN Rally this year..in a few days
....not a good time to read news like this
RIP
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#9
BahHumBug
iTrader: (10)
thats about right, id personally give them more. the gumball rules technically discourage speeding but those who defy them normally have the good sense to take tickets/etc. in stride. they know the risk of driving the way they do and i think the 1year sentence is pretty damn lenient considering they knew they could have (and in this case DID) kill an innocent person on the roads.
iirc the MINIMUM term for reckless endangerment, speeding, vehicular manslaughter, and extreme speeding (separate charge) is around 5 years here in the U.S., though i may be off since i cant really remember anymore :uh
i remember when the gumball was in morrocco, the king/prince/w-e had personally invited them into the country, closed off the freshly completed highway system (predesignated route only for a day) and gave them full police escort, effectively creating a controlled environment through which nobody not involved could get hurt. there was an incident with a lambo hitting a resident's car but the driver wasnt technically supposed to be on that road anyways and there was no cover up, lambo driver owned up to his fault and payed for a new car+the minor med. bills for the driver/passengers.
Last edited by PureDrifter; 05-05-07 at 01:34 AM.
#12
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That, I'm not really clear on. Here's a link to the article where I got that information from
http://www.carzi.com/2007/05/03/fina...000-cancelled/
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The wife also died from the injuries yesterday.
RIP.
The wife also died from the injuries yesterday.
RIP.
#15
Loves Snickerdoodles!
Thread Starter
Oh man, the wife died too...that's really sad R.I.P.
I don't know too much about the details about the crash but in an interview with BBC UK, Maximillian Cooper (organizer of the rally) makes it seem as if the elderly couple was at fault.
Link to the video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/new...tm?bw=nb&mp=wm
I don't know too much about the details about the crash but in an interview with BBC UK, Maximillian Cooper (organizer of the rally) makes it seem as if the elderly couple was at fault.
Link to the video
http://news.bbc.co.uk/player/nol/new...tm?bw=nb&mp=wm