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| Eight die in illegal US road race | |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Eight people were killed when a car veered into a crowd at an illegal street race in the United States. | |
| The crash happened at about 0340 (0840 GMT) on Route 210 just outside Accokeek in Maryland - about 20 miles (32km) from Washington DC. | The crash happened at about 0340 (0840 GMT) on Route 210 just outside Accokeek in Maryland - about 20 miles (32km) from Washington DC. |
| At least six people were injured, police said. Their conditions were not immediately known. | At least six people were injured, police said. Their conditions were not immediately known. |
| "It's probably one of the worst scenes I've seen," said Prince George's County Police Cpl Clinton Copeland. | "It's probably one of the worst scenes I've seen," said Prince George's County Police Cpl Clinton Copeland. |
| A white sedan went out of control and ploughed into the crowd of spectators on the roadside, Cpl Copeland said. | A white sedan went out of control and ploughed into the crowd of spectators on the roadside, Cpl Copeland said. |
| It was followed by a tractor-trailer that may also have hit bystanders as it tried to avoid the crash, he said. | It was followed by a tractor-trailer that may also have hit bystanders as it tried to avoid the crash, he said. |
| Witnesses told the Associated Press news agency that a crowd of about 50 people had just watched two cars speed past in the race, when another car veered into spectators. | Witnesses told the Associated Press news agency that a crowd of about 50 people had just watched two cars speed past in the race, when another car veered into spectators. |
| Police said the darkness and the smoke coming from the cars meant the approaching driver probably could not see the crowd on the road. | Police said the darkness and the smoke coming from the cars meant the approaching driver probably could not see the crowd on the road. |
| Seven people were pronounced dead at the scene, and an eighth later died in hospital. | Seven people were pronounced dead at the scene, and an eighth later died in hospital. |
| "There were just bodies everywhere; it was horrible," Crystal Gaines, 27, told AP. | "There were just bodies everywhere; it was horrible," Crystal Gaines, 27, told AP. |
| Her father was among the dead. "He wasn't breathing, he wasn't moving," she said. "His body was in pieces." | Her father was among the dead. "He wasn't breathing, he wasn't moving," she said. "His body was in pieces." |
| Victims' bodies were scattered along a 183-metre (200-yard) stretch of road, police said. | Victims' bodies were scattered along a 183-metre (200-yard) stretch of road, police said. |
| The driver of the sedan was not seriously hurt and has been interviewed but no charges were pending, Cpl Copeland said. | The driver of the sedan was not seriously hurt and has been interviewed but no charges were pending, Cpl Copeland said. |