Drag Racer Lucky Escape Slamming into a Sand Trap After Parachute Malfunction

[kellyhound]

A drag racer had a miraculous escape when his jet-powered vehicle slammed into a sand trap after reaching over 400km/h during an event at Perth's Kwinana Motorplex.

During the final round of the drag racing event on Saturday night, South African jet dragster driver Pieter De Wit careered off course after the parachute on his jet-powered car malfunctioned.

De Wit, piloting the dragster Gravity Storm, wrecked the vehicle when it hit the sand trap area of the motorplex after topping 438km/h during his run.

After being extracted from the wreckage, De Wit was helicoptered by the RAC Rescue Chopper to Royal Perth Hospital for observation.

A spokesman for the motorplex said that despite the massive impact, De Wit was responding to safety crew and was talking to them until he left the venue.

The South African, who is now based in Perth, suffered no broken bones, but needed treatment for significant bruising and burns to his back.