One dead and another critical after horror crash at speed trials

9:28pm Saturday 8th September 2012 in News By Ben James

A 38-year-old has died and a 64-year-old man is in a critical condition after a horror crash at a historic speed trials event.

The male and female, who were racing in a motorbike and sidecar, failed to stop at the end of the track on Madeira Drive, Brighton, and smashed into a barrier.

The emergency services were called at 6.10pm on Saturday before taking the pair to hospital.

A 38year-old woman from Suffolk was confirmed dead shortly after while the a 64-year-old man from London is still in a critical condition.

Leonard Wooller, vice chair of the Brighton and Hove Motor Club, who organise the event, said that the vehicle crashed into a barrier leaving oil spread across the road.

Sussex police are appealing for witnesses with photographs or videos of what happened to come forward.

They should contact them on 101 referencing operation Marsden.

Send your tributes to neil.vowles@theargus.co.uk .

 

Comments(41)

Gardenboy says...
9:36pm Sat 8 Sep 12

Very sad, but this is not the right place for "speed" trials!
I guess this will be the last one on Brihhton seafront.

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Bucket feet Duffy says...
10:00pm Sat 8 Sep 12

Didn't know they were still doing it there, shame he didn't stop possibly became ill it always used to be a good day out.

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Nightshade says...
10:14pm Sat 8 Sep 12

Somebody has lost their life, and you go on about poxy spelling mistakes. Get a grip and show some respect. My condolences to the deceased's family.

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PacMan292 says...
11:00pm Sat 8 Sep 12

Oh would you lot stop ****. Having competed against both these guys I am at a loss for words. I can only express my condolences for the family concerned and hope a recovery is made by the other. Thoughts from all our team are with you.

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trevleg says...
11:02pm Sat 8 Sep 12

i am an avid motorspot fan and go to events all over the world street racing in plenty of places where the local council make it safe, and i am very sorry but this although a great event was an accident waiting to happen either put security barriers up along the drive or just forget it. if the council will not pay then private investors should pay the bill to make it safe the barriers could be put up a few days before the event and taken down afte,r if not i feel this truly great historic event is finished its simply too dangerous at 169 mph 8.85 secs insane without barriers .

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hubby says...
11:37pm Sat 8 Sep 12

There isn't a need for this event,or some of the idiotic comments on here.
Stop both please!
RIP whoever died.There will be a lot of sad friends and relatives reading this.
Spare a thought eh!

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pjwilk says...
11:38pm Sat 8 Sep 12

Nightshade wrote:
Somebody has lost their life, and you go on about poxy spelling mistakes. Get a grip and show some respect. My condolences to the deceased's family.
Totally agree with you Nightshade,and my condolences too.

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bn1since78 says...
12:24am Sun 9 Sep 12

Gardenboy wrote:
Very sad, but this is not the right place for "speed" trials! I guess this will be the last one on Brihhton seafront.
This event is Britains longest running motorsport event and has happened here since 1905. It is exactly the place for 'speed trials'.

Those who enter the event, and any of the countless other motorsport events around the world, know the potential dangers of the sport, and that is part of the thrill of competing.

That said, it is always very sad to hear of injury or loss, but can we all please show some respect for all of those affected by todays incident.

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F in L says...
12:28am Sun 9 Sep 12

bn1since78 wrote:
Gardenboy wrote:
Very sad, but this is not the right place for "speed" trials! I guess this will be the last one on Brihhton seafront.
This event is Britains longest running motorsport event and has happened here since 1905. It is exactly the place for 'speed trials'.

Those who enter the event, and any of the countless other motorsport events around the world, know the potential dangers of the sport, and that is part of the thrill of competing.

That said, it is always very sad to hear of injury or loss, but can we all please show some respect for all of those affected by todays incident.
What a cretinous point of view, by this rationale, opium dens are OK. Enough with this, it should be banned.

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bmw46:5i says...
2:30am Sun 9 Sep 12

As a total fan of everything fast,and knowing the consequences, My heart goes out to all concerned. Keep the faith. Angels live forever. Big love to all ,reach to explore .best wishes guys,

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DGStrev says...
7:36am Sun 9 Sep 12

PacMan292 wrote:
Oh would you lot stop ****. Having competed against both these guys I am at a loss for words. I can only express my condolences for the family concerned and hope a recovery is made by the other. Thoughts from all our team are with you.
We as spectators on the day wish to send our condolences to all Family and Team.You are all in our Thoughts each and every day.

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Morpheus says...
9:31am Sun 9 Sep 12

Most people making comments about this event seem to have missed the key point that they failed to stop at the end of the track. This suggests equipment failure and had nothing to do with the location being unsuitable.

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smorgan12 says...
9:48am Sun 9 Sep 12

For people discussing weather this is correct place to host this event should have this to conciser.

Madeira Drive is the worlds oldest drag strip. Despite the council knowing this event is hosted every year, they have failed over the years to create an even road surface for the racers to be on. Unfortunately the crash that took place yesterday afternoon was a very unfortunate and unusual turn of events for the speed trials. The marshals had put tyres around every post and corner and being at the speed trials myself (missed the crash slightly as somebody stepped in front of me at the last second) I don't believe the couple crashed in to anything apart from a net fence barrier that stops you accessing the Volks Rail tracks.

As the council is now run by the Green Party (Who actually manages to mess up everything for the residents of Brightron) I will not be surprised if this event is not allowed to run anything.

Like I said previously, my thoughts and wishes go out to the family but I believe this crash happened because of the road surfaces created by constant, ridiculous and small repairs carried out by the council. The road surface is totally uneven and needs resurfacing.

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smorgan12 says...
9:48am Sun 9 Sep 12

For people discussing weather this is correct place to host this event should have this to conciser.

Madeira Drive is the worlds oldest drag strip. Despite the council knowing this event is hosted every year, they have failed over the years to create an even road surface for the racers to be on. Unfortunately the crash that took place yesterday afternoon was a very unfortunate and unusual turn of events for the speed trials. The marshals had put tyres around every post and corner and being at the speed trials myself (missed the crash slightly as somebody stepped in front of me at the last second) I don't believe the couple crashed in to anything apart from a net fence barrier that stops you accessing the Volks Rail tracks.

As the council is now run by the Green Party (Who actually manages to mess up everything for the residents of Brighton) I will not be surprised if this event is not allowed to run anything.

Like I said previously, my thoughts and wishes go out to the family but I believe this crash happened because of the road surfaces created by constant, ridiculous and small repairs carried out by the council. The road surface is totally uneven and needs resurfacing.

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mr punch says...
10:02am Sun 9 Sep 12

A sad turn of events, a sad story and a lot of sad comments on here.
Things happen, sometimes they are more avoidable than others but, unfortunately, they happen. If someone came off their bike on the London to Brighton which created a pile up would they ban the event? I don't think so. If someone lost control of a vehicle and hurt people running the Brighton marathon would they ban the event? I don't think so.
Things happen, not always good things but that's they way it goes. Hopefully there wont be a knee-jerk reaction to this and people can enjoy doing what they have been doing for years.
If I made any spelling mistakes, call the police, sake.

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Kemptownist says...
10:04am Sun 9 Sep 12

I sadly witnessed this accident. He certainly didn't appear to come to the end. The vehicle appeared to hit the curb. There didn't seem to be any barriers either, just a hard, concrete curb. Seems crazy to me. One other thing, I was very surprised that the road was swept of debris seconds after the event. Surely this isn't right??!!

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Alzir says...
10:09am Sun 9 Sep 12

F in L wrote:
bn1since78 wrote:
Gardenboy wrote:
Very sad, but this is not the right place for "speed" trials! I guess this will be the last one on Brihhton seafront.
This event is Britains longest running motorsport event and has happened here since 1905. It is exactly the place for 'speed trials'.

Those who enter the event, and any of the countless other motorsport events around the world, know the potential dangers of the sport, and that is part of the thrill of competing.

That said, it is always very sad to hear of injury or loss, but can we all please show some respect for all of those affected by todays incident.
What a cretinous point of view, by this rationale, opium dens are OK. Enough with this, it should be banned.
RIP and thoughts with family and friends affected.

To all theself righteous do-gooders that want to ban everything that might cause more than a scratch: STFU!

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www.worthing says...
11:39am Sun 9 Sep 12

Firstly, RIP to whoever the deceased person may be and condolences to all their family and friends. My thoughts are with you all.

Secondly, for the critics and killjoys, I attended this event yesterday as a spectator and have previously been a competitor and just have to say, that anybody who enters a motorsport event knows all the risks and the dangers involved especially in a speed event such as this and we would never want this brilliant historic event banned or even any of the rules changed regardless of accidents occurring or not. As a motorsport competitor, spectator and with friends who were entrants yesterday, I think I am speaking for all of us.

All necessary SENSIBLE safety precautions are taken by the Brighton and Hove Motor Club in professionally running this otherwise safe and enjoyable event. It is not possible to make any motorsport event 100% safe and this why warnings are always published for this very reason.

Sanitising motorsport would destroy it and all the enjoyment that comes from the sport whether as a competitor or spectator.

So please just treat this comments section as a tribute and sympathies section for the deceased and injured people and not trying to put the world to rights through it.

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Dirk Von Roden says...
12:46pm Sun 9 Sep 12

my condolences to the families involved and I hope the Gentleman gets better soon ! a tragic accident unfortunately a life lost! everyone who attends this kind of event knows the dangers and I am sure everything possible was done to stop such an accident (as that is what it was a tragic accident) happening !

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magicmenagerie says...
12:49pm Sun 9 Sep 12

F in L wrote:
bn1since78 wrote:
Gardenboy wrote:
Very sad, but this is not the right place for "speed" trials! I guess this will be the last one on Brihhton seafront.
This event is Britains longest running motorsport event and has happened here since 1905. It is exactly the place for 'speed trials'.

Those who enter the event, and any of the countless other motorsport events around the world, know the potential dangers of the sport, and that is part of the thrill of competing.

That said, it is always very sad to hear of injury or loss, but can we all please show some respect for all of those affected by todays incident.
What a cretinous point of view, by this rationale, opium dens are OK. Enough with this, it should be banned.
Opium dens are OK

Report this post »

bn1since78 says...
1:37pm Sun 9 Sep 12

www.worthing wrote:
Firstly, RIP to whoever the deceased person may be and condolences to all their family and friends. My thoughts are with you all. Secondly, for the critics and killjoys, I attended this event yesterday as a spectator and have previously been a competitor and just have to say, that anybody who enters a motorsport event knows all the risks and the dangers involved especially in a speed event such as this and we would never want this brilliant historic event banned or even any of the rules changed regardless of accidents occurring or not. As a motorsport competitor, spectator and with friends who were entrants yesterday, I think I am speaking for all of us. All necessary SENSIBLE safety precautions are taken by the Brighton and Hove Motor Club in professionally running this otherwise safe and enjoyable event. It is not possible to make any motorsport event 100% safe and this why warnings are always published for this very reason. Sanitising motorsport would destroy it and all the enjoyment that comes from the sport whether as a competitor or spectator. So please just treat this comments section as a tribute and sympathies section for the deceased and injured people and not trying to put the world to rights through it.
This echoes my comment above and I agree with you wholeheartedly. People also need to remember that before competing in this event the cars are scrutineered to ensure that they meet safety requirements, and also that the drivers/riders have to hold MSA race licenses in order to compete. It's not just idiots street racing to get to the McDonald's drive through. Again, my thoughts are with everybody affected by the incident.

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motco says...
3:05pm Sun 9 Sep 12

I doubt that anyone who has been hurt or even killed (if you could ask one of the very few) at this long-standing event would want it to be banned. These are sentient adults who know exactly what they are doing and are willing to take the risks. I was present too and am at a loss to understand what caused the outfit to veer off course on the slow-down from its run and to crash into the chain-link fence between the road and the Volks Railway (fence, no kerb of any kind). There are concrete cones behind the fence and it is probably one of these that did the real damage - one was knocked askew by the crash. If the council had any imagination they would capitalise on this very atmospheric event and turn it into a sort of Sussex Monaco Grand Prix. Such is the vitality of Brighton that a weekend long motor sport event could bring revenue and tourists of many kinds to the town. Instead it has been emasculated by 'health 'n' safety' over the many years that I have attended, and is a pale shadow of its original self. www.worthing is right, it is a wonderful event and must not suffer under the solemn auspices of the green brigade. Of course there is no need for it, especially in the cold and miserable world that some of its detractors inhabit, but there's no need for literature, music, art, or anything beyond tractor factories in the bloody Urals!

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Rita Snatch says...
3:52pm Sun 9 Sep 12

This stretch of road was orinally built for races - similar to these speed trials.

If it wasn't for the speed trials - we would probably still have a stretch of gravel pathway, without any other structure, uner the cliffs, similar to the undercliff walk!

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Telscombe Cliffy says...
5:28pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Sad news, I did not realise this tragedy had happened yesterday when I walked along Madeira drive this morning and reported a concrete cone on the Volks track about 10am. The Volks guys couldn't move it and the trains could not go east of the centre station. I thought at the time that some young lads in a souped up car had gone off the road last night and caused the hole in the fence etc. Went to a motorcycle meeting in Dorset later on on Sunday afternoon and found out about this accident then, as they held a minutes silence for the lady killed before the racing started. Thoughts with everybody affected by the accident.

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Mick Huby says...
6:46pm Sun 9 Sep 12

First of all my condolences to the family of the deceased lady and a speedy recovery for the gent that got hurt in the accident!
And now a word to the critics and people that obviously worry about their wallets more than people that get hurt:
As an ex competitor and two time 1000 cc motorcycle class winner I think I can say a word or two about safety at this event...
First to the "scraping" comment: SHAME ON YOU, uninformed human being!!! Apart from your obvious lack of respect, your wallet, other than the victims and their relatives, will not feel any pain, cause every competitor has to have a valid race license, that is tied to an accident insurance.
Second: the Brighton Speed Trials are a very safe event. Not only cause they have to meet all the rules and regulations of a sanctioned motorsport event, but because most of the competitors are very experienced and seasoned racers. It's a time trial, so only one vehicle at a time is on the track, reducing the risk of collisions.
As long as I follow the event, I have never seen anyone getting hurt.
Freak accidents can happen anytime and anywhere, but on a race track less often than on public roads.
As a racer you know about the dangers, every time you start that engine.
If society tries to eliminate all risk from life, it will leave us with nothing to live for.

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Wigwam,, says...
8:14pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Our thoughts are with the families,at this very sad time.We saw this horrific crash and we're amazed that two recovery vehicles were first on scene before the rescue van that was parked on dukes mound .and as already stated sweeping the road seemed to be a priority.

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bn1since78 says...
10:58pm Sun 9 Sep 12

Wigwam,, wrote:
Our thoughts are with the families,at this very sad time.We saw this horrific crash and we're amazed that two recovery vehicles were first on scene before the rescue van that was parked on dukes mound .and as already stated sweeping the road seemed to be a priority.
The recovery trucks are there ready and waiting throughout the entire day, primarily to tow cars back to the start line from the parking area at the end if needed. I guess that the marshals started to sweep the debris from the road to get the racing back underway before they realised the severity of the incident.

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solding says...
7:15am Mon 10 Sep 12

My condolences to the families and also my thoughts are with the families at this sad time. I was standing right above where this accident took place and it seems to me that that bit of road has some rough tarmac.I agree with some people that they should not ban this event.

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trevleg says...
9:00am Mon 10 Sep 12

I too saw the incident and am still shaken from it. sincere condolences to the families.
Of course it should be continued as it is a great day out and lots of fun for many people. but it seems obvious from the comments here that resurfacing work by the council and and some extra security barriers and or removal of the concrete cones along the railway line are the very least to do in order to try and make it safer. As speeds will continue to increase year in year out without doubt that is the natural evolution of motorsport.
It will never be completely safe and i completely agree that is what makes motorsport exciting but most circuits these days have run offs or at very least barriers and its only fair to give competitors the safest place possible to compete.
It is still exciting it does not have to be like the TT races on Isle of Mann which although very exciting are also stupidly dangerous raced over poor sufaces beween flint walls. and after witnessing a fatal accident there will never return and I personally do not go to see people get hurt.
Simoncelli was killed in an unavoidable accident. where it can be avoided it should be. is that not common sense life is precious after all.
A combination of the poor suface which caused the Mini to spin out of control earlier in the day and the position of the concrete cones behind the chain link fence were a fatal combination. and left a bad taste on an otherwise fantastic day out in the Brighton sunshine lets hope they can fix things up for next year hey and we can all go back and have a great day out.

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honor30 says...
9:28am Mon 10 Sep 12

Her name is Charlotte Tagg and she was an amazing woman and mother to 3 great children, bless their hearts. She would be furious if she knew people were considering or discussing closing the track down. She was a big dreamer and finally these last couple of years made her dreams her reality and started riding. You'd never meet anyone more happy or so closely resembling the sunshine. This is a tragedy and great loss that the world will never recover from.

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motco says...
9:37am Mon 10 Sep 12

honor30 wrote:
Her name is Charlotte Tagg and she was an amazing woman and mother to 3 great children, bless their hearts. She would be furious if she knew people were considering or discussing closing the track down. She was a big dreamer and finally these last couple of years made her dreams her reality and started riding. You'd never meet anyone more happy or so closely resembling the sunshine. This is a tragedy and great loss that the world will never recover from.
The event programme has the passenger's name as Cassie Fowler and a contributor on a sports car forum has a post by a competitor who spoke to Cassie Fowler earlier in the day. She told him she was due to ride that day on this machine (as per the programme) but she was not (apparently) Charlotte Tagg. Do you know why this might be?

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honor30 says...
10:51am Mon 10 Sep 12

motco: I'm sorry, I don't know. I had no idea. Are you suggesting she wasn't supposed to ride? It is definitely Charlotte who has died.

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motco says...
11:53am Mon 10 Sep 12

honor30, I only know that the programme said Cassie Fowler was the passenger of Roger Hollingshead (on the machine that crashed) at the Trials, but several sources on various forums say that Charlotte Tagg was actually the passenger.

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motco says...
12:41pm Mon 10 Sep 12

The Sussex Police say it was indeed Charlotte.

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CMBHP. says...
5:53pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Why do people feel the need to write there useless opinions on something they no little about?
Why would the event need to be shut down? I'm sure that this is not what they would have wanted. and it's certainly not something that we should even be thinking about! our thought's should be with the family's of the 2 people involved in the incident. none of you have any right spreading your stupid pathetic thoughts across the internet! you weren't there, you don't actually know what really happened so shut up. It clearly states on many posters and even the back of the tickets "WARNING MOTOR SPORT CAN BE DANGEROUS, DESPITE THE ORGANIZERS TAKING ALL REASONABLE PRECAUTIONS UNAVOIDABLE ACCIDENTS CAN HAPPEN, IN RESPECT OF THESE YOU ARE PRESENT AT YOUR OWN RISK"

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nocando says...
7:39pm Mon 10 Sep 12

Racers. Giants amongst men and women. Respect.

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Home&AwayBHA says...
8:22pm Mon 10 Sep 12

www.worthing wrote:
Firstly, RIP to whoever the deceased person may be and condolences to all their family and friends. My thoughts are with you all.

Secondly, for the critics and killjoys, I attended this event yesterday as a spectator and have previously been a competitor and just have to say, that anybody who enters a motorsport event knows all the risks and the dangers involved especially in a speed event such as this and we would never want this brilliant historic event banned or even any of the rules changed regardless of accidents occurring or not. As a motorsport competitor, spectator and with friends who were entrants yesterday, I think I am speaking for all of us.

All necessary SENSIBLE safety precautions are taken by the Brighton and Hove Motor Club in professionally running this otherwise safe and enjoyable event. It is not possible to make any motorsport event 100% safe and this why warnings are always published for this very reason.

Sanitising motorsport would destroy it and all the enjoyment that comes from the sport whether as a competitor or spectator.

So please just treat this comments section as a tribute and sympathies section for the deceased and injured people and not trying to put the world to rights through it.
At last! A passionate, sensible & sensitive appraisal of yesterday's tragic accident. Thank you.

And for those who seek to ban everything which incorporates a risk factor that exceeds staying indoors, remember these several words of truth:

'The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing.'

Sincere condolences to the family & friends of the lady that lost her life yesterday; & positive wishes to the badly injured driver of the outfit. I hope he pulls through & makes a full recovery.

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motco says...
9:06am Tue 11 Sep 12

Is there any news of the driver?

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Yolticat says...
4:54pm Tue 11 Sep 12

I too witnessed the accident which happened on a bumpy patch of road where the surface changes. There was a small explosion, maybe a tyre bursting immediately before the vehicle swerved and hit the fence to the Volks Railway and lost control. It was not a bike & side car, it was a 3-wheeled very long American style custom bike.

RIP the young lady, and hopefully the gentleman will eventually fully recover.

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Yolticat says...
4:54pm Tue 11 Sep 12

I too witnessed the accident which happened on a bumpy patch of road where the surface changes. There was a small explosion, maybe a tyre bursting immediately before the vehicle swerved and hit the fence to the Volks Railway and lost control. It was not a bike & side car, it was a 3-wheeled very long American style custom bike.

RIP the young lady, and hopefully the gentleman will eventually fully recover.

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SpoookaaySpooon says...
6:25pm Tue 11 Sep 12

My thoughts are with this ladies friends and family especially her children at this sad time. I hope the gentleman makes a quick recovery.

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