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Sad day for rally fans 
[quote name='Sky.com']Rally Legend And Young Son Killed[/quote][quote name='Sky.com']
Updated: 19:56, Sunday September 16, 2007
Police have confirmed that rally driver Colin McRae and his son were among four people killed in a helicopter crash near his country home.
The 39-year-old was on board the aircraft with his son Johnny, six, and friends Graeme Duncan, 37, and Ben Porcelli, six.
Ben had been at the McRae house playing with Johnny shortly before the crash, Strathclyde Police said.
The helicopter came down within the grounds of the family home in Jerviswood, near Lanark, at about 4.10pm on Saturday.
Colin McRae's father Jim, who was also a racing driver, issued a statement on behalf of the family saying: "It is unbelievable that Colin and Johnny's lives have been taken so prematurely and in such a tragic manner.
"Colin was a great son, a loving husband to Alison and a fantastic father to Johnny and his big sister Hollie. Johnny was a great wee guy, spending every spare minute with his dad, and even at this early stage it looked like he had the potential to carry on the family dynasty.
"Our thoughts are also very much with the families of Ben Porcelli and Graeme Duncan."
Ben's parents issued a statement saying they were "absolutely devastated" at the loss of their "charming, fun-loving and caring wee boy".
Chief Superintendent Tim Love said witnesses had a described the helicopter making the noise of a "train" shortly before it crashed.
"It appears to be a tragic accident at the moment," he said.
"There were noises coming from the helicopter that were unusual. These are from witnesses who were used to helicopters in this area."
He said it would be "difficult to tell it was a helicopter" from the wreckage, adding that Mr McRae and his passengers would have died on impact.
"The families are shattered, it is an horrendous tragedy for them. The families are respected in this area and it will have a devastating impact," he said.
Four hearses each carrying a coffin left the Jerviswood estate this evening.
Post mortem examinations will now be carried out over the next few days and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch is examining the crash wreckage.
Chief Supt Love said the group was just returning from a visit to the nearby village of Quarter around 4.05pm yesterday, when it appears that the helicopter got into difficulty.
A team of around 40 firefighters were at one point dealing with the fire from the blast.
Mr McRae became the first Briton to win the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1995 and hails from a well-known motor racing family in Scotland.
He is survived by his wife Alison and daughter Hollie. [/quote]
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1284286,00.html
[quote name='Sky.com']Rally Legend And Young Son Killed[/quote][quote name='Sky.com']
Updated: 19:56, Sunday September 16, 2007
Police have confirmed that rally driver Colin McRae and his son were among four people killed in a helicopter crash near his country home.
The 39-year-old was on board the aircraft with his son Johnny, six, and friends Graeme Duncan, 37, and Ben Porcelli, six.
Ben had been at the McRae house playing with Johnny shortly before the crash, Strathclyde Police said.
The helicopter came down within the grounds of the family home in Jerviswood, near Lanark, at about 4.10pm on Saturday.
Colin McRae's father Jim, who was also a racing driver, issued a statement on behalf of the family saying: "It is unbelievable that Colin and Johnny's lives have been taken so prematurely and in such a tragic manner.
"Colin was a great son, a loving husband to Alison and a fantastic father to Johnny and his big sister Hollie. Johnny was a great wee guy, spending every spare minute with his dad, and even at this early stage it looked like he had the potential to carry on the family dynasty.
"Our thoughts are also very much with the families of Ben Porcelli and Graeme Duncan."
Ben's parents issued a statement saying they were "absolutely devastated" at the loss of their "charming, fun-loving and caring wee boy".
Chief Superintendent Tim Love said witnesses had a described the helicopter making the noise of a "train" shortly before it crashed.
"It appears to be a tragic accident at the moment," he said.
"There were noises coming from the helicopter that were unusual. These are from witnesses who were used to helicopters in this area."
He said it would be "difficult to tell it was a helicopter" from the wreckage, adding that Mr McRae and his passengers would have died on impact.
"The families are shattered, it is an horrendous tragedy for them. The families are respected in this area and it will have a devastating impact," he said.
Four hearses each carrying a coffin left the Jerviswood estate this evening.
Post mortem examinations will now be carried out over the next few days and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch is examining the crash wreckage.
Chief Supt Love said the group was just returning from a visit to the nearby village of Quarter around 4.05pm yesterday, when it appears that the helicopter got into difficulty.
A team of around 40 firefighters were at one point dealing with the fire from the blast.
Mr McRae became the first Briton to win the World Rally Championship drivers' title in 1995 and hails from a well-known motor racing family in Scotland.
He is survived by his wife Alison and daughter Hollie. [/quote]
http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1284286,00.html
