A horrific accident occurred at the Autódromo Internacional de San Carlos in the Venezuelan state of Cojedes, on Monday, 21 August 2000. One young boy was killed, when the out of control Ferrari F355 Challenge driven by Francoise Güerín entered the pitlane at full speed and hit a Ford Mustang parked in pit, waiting to start in the next race. The car explosively burst into flame, injuring several bystanders, some of which were children.
The accident happened during a Ferrari Challenge race, a twenty lap event included in the program of the II Válida de Automovilismo, this was the penultimate race of the day before the final Copa Mustang 2000 25-lap event.
On the second lap of the race, at the exit of the last corner of the circuit, the fast right-hand Parabolica bend, entering the main straight Güerín grabbed some dirt on the edge of the track on the left side. He spun to avoid hitting Gaetano Nicolacci's car, which skidded right round and remained in the middle of the track. It is not clear whether the two cars slightly collided. Trying to regain control of his car, Güerín crossed the track at more than 190 km/h (118 mi/h) towards the entrance of the pitlane. The Ferrari hit the metal support pillar of the pit garages and the stationary Ford Mustang of Marlon Márquez, that was parked illegally in front of the pits. The impact caused the explosion of the fuel tank.
According to eyewitnesses report, the rescue personnel performed very badly on this occasion, reacting very slowly and confusedly, also they were not properly equipped to face such a huge disaster. However the helicopter of the Guardia Nacional was quickly on the track to transport those most severly injured to the hospitals of San Carlos, Caracas, Maracay and Valencia.
At the Hospital Central of San Carlos were admitted the four members of a Venezuelan family who was standing near the Ford Mustang at the moment of the accident, Asmer Trujillo, his wife Nadeska Natera de Trujillo, and sons Johany and Asmer. One of the kids, Asmer Trujillo Natera, died in hospital from the burns and other severe injuries he sustained. His age of death was showed as six, seven or nine years, depending on the source.
R.I.P
