Rally driver Colin McRae dead after helicopter crash

By Agence France-Presse

LONDON–British rally driver Colin McRae and two children — including his five-year-old son — were among the four passengers killed in a helicopter crash this weekend in Scotland, police said Sunday.

Strathclyde Police confirmed that the 39-year-old driver, his son Johnny, and two family friends were killed in the incident in Lanark, Scotland, on Saturday afternoon.

“We believe that the group were just returning from a visit to the nearby village of Quarter around 1605 hours (1505 GMT) yesterday, when it appears that the helicopter got into difficulty and crashed within the grounds of Mr McRae’s family home,” Chief Superintendent Tim Love said in a statement.

“Our officers are working closely with the air accident investigation team who are presently at the scene.

“Family liaison officers have been appointed and are with the families to help them through this distressing and difficult time.”

A police spokeswoman stressed that the bodies had not yet been formally identified.

“Regarding the helicopter crash in Jerviswood, Lanark, yesterday, Saturday 15 September 2007, it has now been confirmed that there were four people, two adults and two young children, on board,” the statement read.

“Although a post mortem has still to take place, the four involved are believed to be: Mr Colin McRae (39) of Jerviswood House and his son Johnny Gavin McRae, aged 5.”

The two others were named as six-year-old Ben Porcelli, of Lanark, and Graeme Duncan, 37, who lived in France.

McRae, the first Briton to win the world rally championship, was married to wife Alison and the couple had two children, Hollie and Johnny.

Colin Steele McRae, a licensed pilot who owned a helicopter, was born in Lanark on August 5, 1968.

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