News Service from House Harris

ASIA: Racing car kills nine spectators at Thai track: police

BANGKOK, Nov 23 AFP - Nine Thai racing fans were killed and five including the driver injured when a car crashed and flipped over a barrier into a crowd of spectators at a Bangkok race track, police said on Sunday.

Lieutenant Colonel Wanchai Chaengaree, a senior police official at the scene, said the car lost control soon after the race started late on Saturday night at a track on the northern outskirts of Thailand's capital.

"One of two racing cars lost control when it left the starting point, hitting a barrier and running into the crowd of spectators," he told AFP.

Six men died at the scene, while three others died later in hospital, he said. Five people including the driver were treated for injuries.

Wanchai said the driver will be charged with negligence resulting in injuryand death to other people. The maximum punishment is ten years in jail anda fine of 20,000 baht ($A936).