Pair held after Gumball death crash

12 April 2012

Macedonian police are questioning two Britons following a fatal accident during an international car rally.

Organisers of the Gumball 3000 closed the race down following the death of Vladimir Cepulyoski, 67, from Macedonia.

Mr Cepulyoski died in hospital from a heart attack after the crash on Wednesday. He had not been involved in the race.

The Foreign Office said Nicholas Morley and Matthew McConville were taking part in the rally when they hit another car in Macedonia.

Ivo Kotevski, a Macedonian police spokesman, said the pair would testify before an investigative magistrate before a decision would be made on whether to hold them in custody.

"Two British citizens left the scene of the accident. Shortly afterwards, border authorities found them in another (vehicle) at the Qafasan border crossing with Albania," he said.

The Gumball 3000 has been a draw for the rich and famous for almost a decade, speeding through Europe in high powered sports cars by day and enjoying lavish parties by night.

It is believed the two men waited at the scene until ambulance crews arrived to help the driver of the second car, before rejoining the race towards the Albanian border.

It is thought the men reported the accident to police when they arrived at the border, and were asked to give statements.

But it is believed that as they returned to the border to continue their trip they were told the other person involved had died and were taken back to a nearby police station.

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