Ashley Cooper, a 27 year old driver from Ulladulla in the state of New South Wales lost his life due to injuries caused by a crash in the Clipsal 500 race. Ashley’s V8 supercar hit the concrete barrier at the exit of a corner, while moving at a speed of 120 mph. The accident caused severe head injuries and brain swelling. On the spot he was attended to by a senior medical officer of the Clipsal 500 and was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital by an ambulance. Ashley was in coma condition and was kept on the life supporting system till his death.
The crash occurred on the 11th lap of the final series of the race and Cooper had the collision at the 8th turn. The first hit was at the driver’s side and the car went across the track to hit the opposite wall with its rear end. This is the second fatal accident that stuck, Australia’s premier auto racing competition within two years time. New Zealand driver Mark Porter died following an accident in October 2006 in the Bathurst 1000 race. Wayne Cattach, chief executive of V8 supercars said that, the preliminary look of the footage points to the fact that Cooper’s car, while entering the corner has clipped the guard rail.