Australia: girl, 8, dies in drag racing crash

An eight year old girl died after crashing her vehicle at a junior drag racing event, in western Australia on Saturday.

The girl, who was named as Anita Board, who had celebrated her eighth birthday just two days before, was practicing to get her drag racing license at the Perth Motorplex in Kwinana.

Board suffered severe injuries in the crash and was rushed to hospital in critical condition after crashing into a concrete barrier, at the end of a solo run. She died the next day.

There was reportedly no other racers on the track.

The Board family, from Aubin Grove, wrote on Facebook that Anita celebrated her birthday by going go-karting, in order to gain more experience before trying for her license.

The page shows Anita with a 210CC purple dragster, called “Pony Power”, while her older sister Zara has a blue-streaked dragster named “Night Fury”.

The siblings were among 26 entrants for the Goldenstates Junior Dragster event.

Spectators outside the gates of Kwinana Motorplex after Anita Board was injured during on Saturday (Photo: the West Australian)

The Australian National Drag Racing Association offered its condolences to Anita’s family.

"The Australian National Drag Racing Association is deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Junior Dragster competitor Anita Board following an on track incident during an event held at the Perth Motorplex on the 11 November," the racing body said in a statement today.

"Everyone at the Australian National Drag Racing Association extends its sincere and deepest condolences to Anita’s family, friends and the wider drag racing community at this tragic time.

"ANDRA will continue to work with VenuesWest and continue to assist police with their investigations while supporting Anita’s family, and ask that the privacy of the family is respected at this tragic time."

ANDRA is deeply saddened to confirm the passing of Junior Dragster competitor Anita Board: https://t.co/8RAX4RYiTV ...1/

— ANDRA Drag Racing (@ANDRA_NEWS) November 12, 2017

Racing was suspended whilst police investigated the crash.

ANDRA rules state that racers aged between eight and 10 cannot exceed 96km/h.