No names have been mentioned, but it’s fairly safe to assume this is Mark and Roger. I really have no idea how to feel about this.
7/12/2003, 7:45 p.m. PT
HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) — Two men participating in an Oregon Trail Road Rally event died Saturday morning when their car struck a tree, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office said.
The accident occurred at 10:53 a.m. on a gravel road in Washington County maintained by the Oregon Department of Forestry.
The victims were the first to drive the course and had apparently gone about nine-tenths of a mile when they lost control and struck a tree, sheriff’s deputies said. The car went airborne and settled in a ditch on the other side of the road.
The speed of the vehicle on impact could have ranged from 80 to 130 mph but investigators had not determined the exact speed.
Both victims were from England and were members of the pro-rally circuit. They were wearing helmets and all standard safety gear, deputies said.
The identities of the victims were not released pending notification of their families.
Much like certain aircraft, rally cars carry black boxes, which record engine information. Investigators recovered the vehicle’s black box and were examining it.
Members of the Oregon State Police and the Washington County Interagency Crash Analysis and Reconstruction Team were assisting in the investigation.