Roger Williamson Fatal Crash.

More info about Roger Williamson:
http://www.asag.sk/bio/williamson.htm

About the accident:
GP Holland 1973.

Roger Williamson crashes hard on lap 8, roll his car and catches fire. Only yards away stood a fire tender, but no order was given to stop the race and its driver refused, perhaps rightly, to drive against the direction of the traffic. Worse, marshals with fire extinguishers merely watched as Purley fought a lone battle to right the upturned March. He could hear Williamson inside it. Roger pleaded with him to get him out. Time and again Purley tried to lift the car, but each time he failed. For two laps - at least 2m 47s -the fire was minimal, but then it grew dramatically in intensity. David tried to fight it after grabbing an extinguisher from one marshal, but by then the fire had too strong a hold. As the marshals still remained immobile, appalled spectators began to try and help, unable to believe what they were seeing. Only then were marshals with police dogs galvanized into action, to keep them back. Finally, in the most callous act of cowardice ever seen in motor racing, they moved at last and tried to drag the desolate Purley away. He shrugged them off angrily. Roger was uninjured in the cockpit, but they left him to die of asphyxiation. When they finally arrived, the fire trucks were far, far too late. David Purley : Through his tears he said, "I just couldn't turn it over. I could see he was alive and I could hear him shouting, but I couldn't get the car over. I was trying to get people to help me, and if I could have turned the car over he would have been alright, we could have got him out." Later, when the immediate grief had receded, he admitted, "I didn't even think about the heroism or any of that rubbish. I just did what comes naturally to a trained soldier who sees a fellow in trouble." Ian Philips - journalist and friend : "Purley actually had a conversation with him. David was trying to turn him over and told me afterwards how Roger had said to him, For God's sake, David, get me out of here', and he just couldn't get him out. The circumstances were just appalling. David Purley was later awared the British Imperial George Medal, the second highest (highest being the George Cross) medal that can ever be awarded to a civilian for bravery.

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  Sports

[Joshua Esquivel]

Man, Purley's utter frustration in attempting in vain to save his comrade is palpable. Dreadful experience no doubt.

[Zeruel3]

They had no fire-resistant clothing on, if they'd tried to do anything the race could be remembered for four deaths instead of only one 

[frankkrunk]

All you fucking armchair first responders need to shut the fuck up. "I am such a hero, I would have put my face into a burning pile of magnesium and racing fuel because the power of my delusions of grandeur protects me!"

"Why didn't the drivers stop and help", well, they could have if they had been flagged properly. You can't just stop your car wherever you want to on a race track. Drivers can't properly assess a situation they are passing at several hundred km/h. That's why flags exist.

[hoppuss44]

It's possible that some of the drivers saw Purley and thought it was Williamson out of the car, but then not to notice there were two cars parked and only one driver? Picture driving past it; first you see a car parked up on the left, then you see a blazing inferno on the right with a man trying to roll it over. Is it not obvious to you that the man is trying to roll it over and save his friend? Either way you stop and help.

[krakenwave]

F1 Marshals then were fans who did it for nothing more than the love of the sport and their bus fare. Barely organised, they got no training, no protective or distinctive clothing, no guaranteed equipment and no respect from anyone. Imagine how they felt... Also, what was not shown was those fans "off camera" who tried desperately to get over the barriers to help. Stopped by cops with dogs, the footage was edited to spare the cops' reputation and potential legal action.

[krakenwave]

I can remember when this happened - although my parents took care to make sure us kids saw neither the footage nor photos, I can remember their horrified reactions whenever it was mentioned, and later my Dad told us all about it. That seems to have been a common reaction among F1 and UK motor-racing fans - it really shook the sport and finally those who needed to started listening to Jackie Stewart. But it took more years and more deaths before even basic safety was assured.

[schradeya]

fuck

[haromkar]

RIP

[TimRosales750]

This world... why is it so facked up! RIP to Rodger Williams and respect to David Purley for doing what he could.

[SlaughterTheFrail]

Greater love hath no man to lay down his life for his brother.

[Susan Taylor]

what a terribly sad video, and what a hero David Purley was to try so hard to save his fellow racer. i remember when that happened all those years ago and I believe Niki Lauder was in that same race. I remember David was angry, and very sad that none of the other drivers had the decency to stop and help, save a fellow racer.Many safety rules changed after that in hopes that this would never happen again.I have the greatest respect for David Purley, for his amazing courage and compassion