Maria De Villota injured in crash.

[emjaya]

Marussia's Spanish test driver Maria De Villota has been "seriously injured" in an accident while driving the team's F1 car.

Link (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/marussia/9372244/Maria-De-Villota-sustains-life-threatening-injuries-testing-Marussia-Formula-One-car.html)

Weird. :\



"The accident happened at the end of her first installation run and involved an impact with the team’s support truck. Maria has been transferred to hospital. Once her medical condition has been assessed a further statement will be issued."

As mechanics approached to wheel the car back for service, it accelerated forwards and crashed into the stationary vehicle parked nearby.

The front of the car was said to have been destroyed while witnesses said De Villota's helmet took the bulk of the impact.

She was reportedly motionless for around 15 minutes as paramedics attended to her but moved her hands before being transported to hospital.

[opinionated ow]

They've upgraded to life threatening. Hope she pulls through :\

[Elmo T]

They've upgraded to life threatening. Hope she pulls through :\

:(

[Methanolandbrats]

Damn.

[Elmo T]

Video from scene (post incident) with a better explanation of what happened - BBC (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-18689440#?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter)

[Indy]

That is just awful. Hoping for the best.

[Methanolandbrats]

What the hell happened? Anyone figure that out yet? :(

[NismoZ]

Who was that poor kid in sprint cars years ago who, as he was being attended to after a wreck, had the car simply charge across the track impacting the outside wall nearly head-on? He died of injuries suffered in that 2nd accident. Imagine how much more complex an F-1 of today is in comparison. I'm wondering about that mega$$ steering wheel and all those buttons.:(

[opinionated ow]

There was a suggestion on a website-racecar engineering maybe-that it might have had something to do with the anti-stall

[Methanolandbrats]

There was a suggestion on a website-racecar engineering maybe-that it might have had something to do with the anti-stall

So if you are slowing down in 1st gear, at a certain point the ECU revs the engine to prevent stalling? So maybe she did not put it in neutral when she pulled into the pit and it took off? Is that the general idea?

[opinionated ow]

So if you are slowing down in 1st gear, at a certain point the ECU revs the engine to prevent stalling? So maybe she did not put it in neutral when she pulled into the pit and it took off? Is that the general idea?

They've taken the suggestion off their site. Essentially that was the idea. Apparently similar things have happened regularly with drivers new to F1 machinery.

[nissan gtp]

no matter the cause, it sucks. Hope she recovers.

[Methanolandbrats]

Well ya it sucks, but they have to figure out what happened and adopt new procedures or technologies so it does not happen again. :(

[cameraman]

An F1 machine collects more telemetry than the space shuttle. They probably already know what happened. The only question is whether they will tell anyone.

[opinionated ow]

The statement confirmed that de Villota has lost her right eye in the accident.

“We are grateful for the medical attention that Maria has been receiving and her family would like to thank the Neurological and Plastics surgical teams,” said Booth.

“However it is with great sadness that I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye.

“Maria’s care and the well-being of her family remain our priority at this time. Her family are at the hospital and we are doing everything possible to support them.
http://www.speedcafe.com/2012/07/05/de-villota-loses-right-eye-testing-accident/

It's tragic but it certainly could have been way worse so I guess that's answered prayer.

[TravelGal]

So sad for her. At least she's upgraded to critical but stable.


We will provide further information when it is appropriate to do so and with consideration for her family.

I particularly like "with consideration for her family." :thumbup:

[TravelGal]

http://www.autoblog.com/2012/07/27/maria-de-villota-home-from-hospital-marussia-to-conclude-accide/?icid=maing-grid7|main5|dl2|sec3_lnk3%26pLid%3D184946

She's coming home.

[indyfan31]

Maria De Villota's MRI from Jalopnik article (http://jalopnik.com/5951915/this-woman-survived-one-of-modern-racings-most-brutal-accidents?tag=Maria-De-Villota). Yikes!

http://l3.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/AUs8FrqdUsGxzgGMdEQjrQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/290/2012/11/07/racedriver-jpg_230207.jpg

[emjaya]

María de Villota: former F1 test driver found dead in Seville hotel

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/oct/11/maria-de-villota-dead-formula-one

[Gnam]

tragic. :(

[nissan gtp]

tragic. :(

yes :(

[Mary]

I just saw this on Autosport.com. Very, very, sad.

RIP.

Mary

[JohnHKart]

I swear I jinxed F1. I was just thinking maybe yesterday or wed its been 19 years since Sennas accident and its the safest racing series there is. She had recently severe headaches related to the crash. 19 years of good luck has ended. There's no question in my mind the crash caused this.

[cameraman]

She seems to have had a seizure in her sleep.

[SteveH]

NBCSN had a nice tribute at the beginning of their qualification coverage. They said it was a heart attack which I found surprising.

[SteveH]

While this doesn't specifically state seizure it certainly could be
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/110566

[TravelGal]

So sad. :(