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| Young fans hit in speedway smash | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A teenage girl was seriously injured and two other people hurt when a motorbike crashed into spectators at a Speedway event in Northumberland. | A teenage girl was seriously injured and two other people hurt when a motorbike crashed into spectators at a Speedway event in Northumberland. |
| The 14-year-old girl suffered head injuries when the bike left the track at Berwick Rangers Football Club in Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed. | The 14-year-old girl suffered head injuries when the bike left the track at Berwick Rangers Football Club in Tweedmouth, Berwick-upon-Tweed. |
| The bike was being ridden by Scott Smith of the Berwick Bandits in a meet against the Isle of Wight Islanders. | |
| A 14-year-old boy in the crowd was also injured in the crash. | A 14-year-old boy in the crowd was also injured in the crash. |
| The girl was taken to Berwick Infirmary but her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. | The girl was taken to Berwick Infirmary but her injuries were not thought to be life-threatening. |
| Four riders were taking part in the race when Smith and his team-mate Paul Fry lost control at a corner. | |
| Domino effect | |
| Both riders hit the fence and Fry was catapulted over the fence landing near the crowd around 90ft (27m) from the track. | |
| Smith came off his bike but stayed on the right side of the fence while his bike was catapulted into the crown injuring the two children. | |
| Fry, who sustained suspected broken toes, knee ligament damage and cuts and bruises, was treated at the scene. | |
| Bob Tasker, of the British Speedway Promoter's Association, said: "The riders always bunch up when they come to a corner, but they hit each other which had a domino effect. | |
| "The two riders made contact with the plywood fence which absorbs the impact - but it did not stop one bike just catapulting into the crowd. | |
| "I've never seen anything like it before." | |
| 'Nasty incident' | |
| Radio Newcastle speedway reporter Lawrence Hepple said: "The speed that they were going and the lack of control of steering meant they just went straight towards, and careered into, the fence. | |
| "The fence did its job and collapsed, which is the idea to try and slow things down. | |
| "But with the position of the bikes and the debris of the fence, one of the bikes and a rider shot over the fence and into the crowd enclosure, which was a shocking thing to witness." | |
| An Isle of Wight Islanders statement said: "This was a very nasty incident, one that is thankfully very, very rare within this sport." | |
| Northumbria Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident which happened on Saturday evening. | Northumbria Police have appealed for witnesses to the incident which happened on Saturday evening. |
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