Man dies in collision with Dakar Rally competitor
Argentine police said a man died when the small truck he was driving collided with a car participating in the Dakar Rally on Thursday.
Police said the accident took place at 6 a.m., about 6 miles from the northern Argentine town of Tinogasta. Argentine media widely carried coverage of the fatality and showed photographs of the damaged vehicles.
The accident took place when Argentine driver Eduardo Amor was still completing the 10th stage, which leading competitors finished on Wednesday. Amor was reportedly driving on a road near Tinogasta when he collided with the other vehicle.
The dead man was identified by the Argentine news agency Diario y Noticias as 42-year-old Marcelo Reales.
Fatalities occur often in the Dakar Rally. Last year a woman watching the race was struck and killed by a vehicle taking part in the race.
The rally began on Jan. 1 in Buenos Aires and will finish there on Sunday. This is the third straight year the event has been held in Argentina and Chile.
The rally had always been held in Europe and Africa until the 2008 race was canceled because of fears of terrorism. It was moved to South America the next year.
