Eight people were injured after a soapbox car lost control and ploughed into spectators during a traditional race.
The horrifying crash unfolded as 51 teams competed in celebrations marking the 128th anniversary of the parish of San Roque, in Imbabura, Ecuador, on Sunday (23 August).
A car racing in the “Fuerza Libre” (Open) category suddenly veered out of control on the 3.5km course.
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It smashed through fences and tyres being used as safety barriers before careering into spectators watching from the roadside.
Cars can reach speeds of more than 80kmh on the course, as reported by Need To Know.
Eight people were injured in the chaos and rushed to hospitals in Atuntaqui and Ibarra for treatment.
Event organiser Steven Terán said safety measures had been put in place for the race but acknowledged that competitions of this type carry inherent risks.
No fatalities have been reported.
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