Sri Lankan race car goes off track killing 7 people and injuring 20, officials say

Colombo, Sri Lanka — A race car veered off the track during a competition in Sri Lanka on Sunday and crashed into a crowd of spectators and race officials, killing seven people and injuring 20 others, authorities said.

Thousands of spectators watched the accident during a race in the town of Diyatalawa, in the tea-producing central hills, about 180 kilometers (110 miles) east of the capital Colombo.

It was not immediately clear what caused the accident.

Police spokesman Nihal Thalduwa said one of the cars left the road and collided with spectators and officials at the event. Seven people, including four staff, were killed and 20 others were being treated at a hospital, Thalduwa said. He said three of the injured were in critical condition.

Thalduwa said police had launched an investigation into the accident, which was the 17th of 24 scheduled events. The race was suspended after the accident.

Around 45,000 spectators gathered at the running circuit of a Sri Lankan military academy. The event was organized by the Sri Lanka Army and Sri Lanka Automobile Sports.