Following a press call at Borders Council Headquarters, Superintendent Phil O’Kane gave the following statement.
“I’d like to start off tonight by offering condolences from Police Scotland, Scottish Borders Council, and the organisers of the Jim Clark Rally, for the tragic circumstances that bring us here tonight.
“We now have three deceased persons and our thoughts and sympathies are with the families of the deceased.
“I’d like to clarify exactly what’s happened today for the benefit of everyone.
“At approximately 14.05pm this afternoon, during the Eccles stage of the Jim Clark Rally, close to Crosshall Farm, there was an accident. It involved a vehicle coming off the road and striking five persons. One female and four males. As a consequence of the accident one male remains in intensive care and has been transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.
“Two males sustained fractures and are currently within the Borders General Hospital, one female received minor injuries and has been discharged and one male received minor injuries and has been discharged.
“Later on this afternoon at approximately 16.07 hours at Little Swinton, there was another accident. Again it involved a car leaving the road, striking four of the spectators. This involved one female and three males. Tragically, three of those persons are now deceased. I can say at this time that Police Scotland are co-ordinating a multi-agency response to this incident. We have had full support from the Scottish Borders Council, the organising committee of the Jim Clark rally and our investigations continue at this time to fully understand what went wrong in order to report the matters to the Procurator Fiscal.”
There will be no further information from Police Scotland this evening.
A Statement has also been issued by the Organisers of the Jim Clark Rally.
The organisers of the Jim Clark Rally would like to extend their heartfelt condolences and sympathy to all of the families and their friends who have been affected by today’s tragic events.
Our thoughts are especially with those who have lost family members and to the families of the injured spectators.
All members of the organising team are in shock and are cooperating fully with Police Scotland to establish the facts.
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