Three spectators were killed during the special stage "Murraciole-Noceta" of the 12th Rallye de Corte-Centre Corse.
It happened around 09h40 on Sunday, 03 October 1999, when the Peugeot 104 ZS #56 of the Corsican team Dominique Sodini-Laurent Massiani left the road on the approach to the "épingle de Vezzani", a hairpin in the small village of Vezzani, some 10 kilometers south of the town of Corte, Haute-Corse department, France. The car plunged into a crowd and two spectators - André Chiari and Robert Fons were killed almost instantly.
Seven others received injuries, four of them were taken by helicopter to Corte hospital and listed in critical condition. One of the injured people succumbed to his injuries several hours later. The driver Dominique Sodini escaped injury, his co-driver Laurent Massiani was taken to hospital for treatment.
Third victim was Francis Romani, aged 30. According to eyewitnesses reports, Sodini lost control of his car trying to avoid a children on the roadside. Policemen and marshals had vainly forced the spectators to move from the dangerous place, near the sharp bend. After the accident the special stage was immediately stopped.
Winner of the rally were Jean-Pierre Manzagol-Xavier Pierlovisi in a Peugeot 306 Maxi.
R.I.P
