3 killed and 6 injured in Scotland rally clash

Crash site

Edinburgh, June 2 (IANS) Three spectators were killed and six others injured in two separate crashes at a rally in the southern Scottish Borders, the police confirmed.

The collision incident occurred Saturday afternoon near Little Swinton, Coldstream, which led to the death of a 64-year-old man, a 63-year-old woman and a 71-year-old-man, all from the "Greater Glasgow" area, said a Police Scotland spokesperson Sunday.

The three victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while another man was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in a critical condition. The event was called off by the Jim Clark Rally organisers after the crash.

Two hours before the fatal crash, another car in the rally swerved off the road and hit five people -- one woman and four men -- near a farm on the Eccles stage of the competition.

Three of these men were taken to Borders General Hospital, but one was then moved to an intensive care unit in Edinburgh. The remaining two spectators were treated for minor injuries.

Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said: "This is desperately sad and difficult news from the Borders of the tragic circumstances that have occurred at the Jim Clark Rally."

The organisers of the race also expressed their "heartfelt condolences and sympathy" to the families and their friends affected by the tragic events.

As a long-standing event of over 40 years, the Jim Clark Rally takes place over three days on closed roads in the Duns and Kelso areas in southeast Scotland.

The rally is named after Scottish Formula One driver Jim Clark, who grew up in the area.

He was killed in a motor racing accident in Hockenheim, Germany in 1968.