Reading Time: 3 minutes
A teen driver and his co-driver were killed in a New Zealand rally sprint crash.
The two people who died have been named: Brooklyn Horan, 15, and Tyson Jemmett, 35.
Their car crashed into a river while they were racing at the Arcadia Road Rallysprint in Paparoa.
An officer with the police said the car had gone off the gravel road and into a flooded river.
The pair were pronounced dead at the scene by first responders.
MotorSport New Zealand confirmed that Horan was behind the wheel of the car when it crashed.
People in New Zealand can’t get a driver’s license until they are 16 years old, but younger drivers can compete in some situations.
This is what MotorSport New Zealand’s website says about the junior driver program: “people aged 12 to 16 can obtain a competition license.”
It is common for young drivers to take part in these competitions, according to MotorSport.
That being said, the organization has said it will be doing a full investigation.
“The event took place on Arcadia Road in Paparoa which was closed to the public for the duration of the event under the authority of the local Road Controlling Authority,” MotorSport said in a statement.
“It is too early in the investigation to comment on what the main contributing factors to the crash were, however, it does not seem as though the road was in a detrimental or unsafe condition.”
Wayne Christie, president of Motorsport New Zealand, said, “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these two competitors and everyone involved with the Arcadia Road Rallysprint.”
“It is only natural that this terrible tragedy will shock and upset everyone in the motorsports world.”
“We will be offering support to all those involved in the coming days.”
There have been a lot of tributes to the two on social media.
Hyden Paddon, winner of the World Rally Championship, went on X to say how sorry he is about the crash that killed two people.
He said, “It was so sad that two great people were taken too soon yesterday.”
“Brooklyn Horan was one of the most exciting young rally stars, and she was destined for great things. Tyson, on the other hand, was a huge rally fan and family man.”
“Your career may have only just been starting but you had already left your mark.”
The company said: “On behalf of the team at Winger Motorsport, we send our condolences to the friends and family of Brooklyn Horan and his co-driver Tyson.”
Also, 1Eighty Racing said, “Such a raw talent! On the track, we will miss you, and our thoughts are with your family.
“It is with a very heavy heart that we heard the absolutely devastating news that Brooklyn passed away doing the very thing we grew to love together as a family,” Hodgson Motorsport wrote.
“It’s times like these that you remember that the sport we chose comes with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows.”
“Brooklyn you were an amazing kind loving happy kid and that hadn’t changed years later when we crossed paths again back at off-roading last year, the cheeky smile was still the same, you had just grown a weeee bit taller.”
Jemmett’s wife, Lucy, is expecting their first child and will miss him very much.
People who used to work with him have started a fundraiser to help his wife and unborn daughter.
