Formula 3 driver Alexander Peroni was been lucky to survive a frightening crash during the Italian Grand Prix over the weekend at Monza.
The 19-year-old Australian racing driver ran wide at the circuit’s final corner, Parabolica, when he ran across a curb at high speed. The impact sent Peroni’s Campos Racing car flying into the air where it flipped and span multiple times before falling onto the edge of the tire wall and fence on the side of the circuit.
Slow-motion footage shows the cockpit of the racer taking the brunt of the impact and the team has credited the halo as saving the racer’s life. The car ultimately came to a rest on the fence and the Safety Car was called in to slow down the race.
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Peroni gingerly walked from the car and hopped into the medical car where he was taken back to the pitlane. He was then transported to hospital where it was discovered his D6 vertebra had suffered multiple fractures. Peroni also sustained a concussion.
“His helmet and the HANS (Head And Neck Support) device that goes around the neck and the car’s halo, they’ve obviously saved his life, it could have been far worse accident,” Peroni’s manager told ABC News.
“Alex’s life was saved by the halo, his helmet and the robust modern survival cell,” the Campos Racing team added. “Alex is currently in hospital and he has been immobilized until further scans are performed on his back on Sunday. His D6 vertebra has multiple fractures and the medical staff will decide tomorrow if it’s necessary to operate. Alex is also recovering from a concussion, with his helmet extensively damaged.”
Due to that incident, the curb was removed before the F1 Grand Prix.