Search for fatal crash answers
Police plan to reconstruct a fatal rally crash that killed a six-year-old Dalyellup boy and seriously injured his brother and sister in a bid to find out what caused the tragedy.
Relatives and friends of the traumatised family from the small South West town were offering love and support yesterday, as the condition of the brother and sister improved in Princess Margaret Hospital.
With a specialist motorsport safety officer flown in to help police at the crash site in Donnelly River, driver Doug Tostevin was questioned by police about the crash.
And while questions continued about safety procedures during the race, WA rally legend Ross Dunkerton defended local motorsport officials as some of the best in the world.
The dead boy's parents maintained their hospital vigil yesterday and were still too upset to speak about Saturday's accident, which killed their youngest boy, a pupil at Dalyellup Primary School.
School friends and staff were also coming to terms with the tragedy, as official investigations continued.
The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport confirmed it had sent a track and safety manager from Melbourne to assist with the investigation. Major crash unit officers were still piecing together the moments before the crash, using recordings seized from spectators filming on the Penny Road bend.
Footage on Seven News shows the S-Technic Subaru WRX sliding dangerously out of control on the right-hand bend, before shocked spectators realised the unfolding disaster.
Those close to the crash worked together to lift the car which had pinned the two youngest children to the ground, but the six-year-old boy died instantly.
Dunkerton, who won the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in 1991 and 1992, said he was still trying to work out how the tragedy could have occurred.
"They (organisers) go to great trouble to make sure that there are officials on particular corners," Dunkerton said.
"And the official running that event had a great deal of experience.
"Knowing the (driving) crew, they would be devastated."
Det-Sen. Sgt Brian Hunter from the major crash unit confirmed police had spoken to Tostevin, who is the current WA rally champion, and would check his car for mechanical faults.
A spokesman for Perth-based S-Technic said they would not comment "until all investigations by the relevant authorities are completed".
WA Police have asked for anyone who may have video of the incident to contact them.
