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Maria de Villota: Driver loses right eye after crash | Maria de Villota: Driver loses right eye after crash |
(about 21 hours later) | |
Formula 1 driver Maria de Villota has lost her right eye following a test track crash. | Formula 1 driver Maria de Villota has lost her right eye following a test track crash. |
She was hurt when the MR-01 race car she was driving hit a support truck at Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire on Tuesday. | She was hurt when the MR-01 race car she was driving hit a support truck at Duxford airfield in Cambridgeshire on Tuesday. |
It was the first time the 32-year-old Spaniard had driven the car for the Oxfordshire-based Marussia team. | It was the first time the 32-year-old Spaniard had driven the car for the Oxfordshire-based Marussia team. |
Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the test track on Wednesday. | Inspectors from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) visited the test track on Wednesday. |
Marussia said surgeons at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge "embarked on a lengthy procedure to address the serious head and facial injuries sustained by Maria in the accident". | Marussia said surgeons at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge "embarked on a lengthy procedure to address the serious head and facial injuries sustained by Maria in the accident". |
'Great sadness' | 'Great sadness' |
It said: "The operation began yesterday afternoon and she was in theatre until this morning. | It said: "The operation began yesterday afternoon and she was in theatre until this morning. |
"Maria remains in a critical but stable condition." | "Maria remains in a critical but stable condition." |
John Booth, team principal of the Marussia F1 Team, said: "Maria emerged from theatre at Addenbrooke's Hospital this morning after a lengthy operation to address the serious head and facial injuries she received in the accident at Duxford Airfield yesterday. | John Booth, team principal of the Marussia F1 Team, said: "Maria emerged from theatre at Addenbrooke's Hospital this morning after a lengthy operation to address the serious head and facial injuries she received in the accident at Duxford Airfield yesterday. |
"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. | "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. |
"However, it is with great sadness that I must report that, due to the injuries she sustained, Maria has lost her right eye. | "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 wellbeing of her family remain our priority at this time. Her family are at the hospital and we are doing everything possible to support them." | "Maria's care and the wellbeing of her family remain our priority at this time. Her family are at the hospital and we are doing everything possible to support them." |
De Villota sustained her injuries after her car "suddenly accelerated" into the back of the support lorry, according to witnesses. | De Villota sustained her injuries after her car "suddenly accelerated" into the back of the support lorry, according to witnesses. |
BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, who saw the accident, said: "The top of her car and her helmet seemed to take the brunt of it. | BBC Radio Cambridgeshire presenter Chris Mann, who saw the accident, said: "The top of her car and her helmet seemed to take the brunt of it. |
"She didn't move for about 15 minutes." | "She didn't move for about 15 minutes." |
'Terrible accident' | 'Terrible accident' |
He said De Villota had been driving at up to 200mph during the testing, but the car was travelling considerably slower at the time of the crash. | He said De Villota had been driving at up to 200mph during the testing, but the car was travelling considerably slower at the time of the crash. |
Mr Booth said: "With regard to the accident, we have embarked on a very comprehensive analysis of what happened and this work continues for the moment." | Mr Booth said: "With regard to the accident, we have embarked on a very comprehensive analysis of what happened and this work continues for the moment." |
Messages of support have come in from the motor racing world, including ones from Ferrari driver and fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. | Messages of support have come in from the motor racing world, including ones from Ferrari driver and fellow Spaniard Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. |
Formula 1 driver and BBC analyst Jaime Alguersari said in his weekly column: "I was shocked to hear of the accident suffered by Maria de Villota. I know her and her family very well. I still don't know the cause of the accident. There are so many rumours but I want to wait to see what really happened. | Formula 1 driver and BBC analyst Jaime Alguersari said in his weekly column: "I was shocked to hear of the accident suffered by Maria de Villota. I know her and her family very well. I still don't know the cause of the accident. There are so many rumours but I want to wait to see what really happened. |
"It's terribly sad. Maria is a fantastic person, as are her brothers and her father Emilio, who was one of Spain's first F1 drivers. | "It's terribly sad. Maria is a fantastic person, as are her brothers and her father Emilio, who was one of Spain's first F1 drivers. |
"She is a role model, especially for all the females who want to get into F1. So this is a very sad situation. | "She is a role model, especially for all the females who want to get into F1. So this is a very sad situation. |
"Thankfully, she is not in a life-threatening situation so we have to look at the positive side. We will see Maria again." | "Thankfully, she is not in a life-threatening situation so we have to look at the positive side. We will see Maria again." |
Lewis Hamilton tweeted: "Just heard about Maria's terrible accident at Duxford. I hope she pulls through. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time." | Lewis Hamilton tweeted: "Just heard about Maria's terrible accident at Duxford. I hope she pulls through. My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this time." |
The McLaren driver said later: "I don't understand how it happened or how it was able to happen." |