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Teen Driver and Co-Driver Killed in New Zealand Rally Sprint Crash
A tragic accident at the Arcadia Road Rallysprint in Paparoa, New Zealand, has claimed the lives of 15-year-old Brooklyn Horan and 35-year-old Tyson Jemmett. The fatal crash occurred when their car veered off a gravel road and plunged into a flooded river.
According to a police officer at the scene, the car had lost control and ended up in the river, resulting in the immediate deaths of both occupants. MotorSport New Zealand confirmed that Horan was the driver at the time of the accident. While New Zealand law stipulates that one must be 16 to obtain a driver’s license, MotorSport New Zealand allows younger drivers to participate in certain competitions under its junior driver program, which permits individuals aged 12 to 16 to obtain a competition license.
The organization announced that a full investigation into the crash would be conducted. They stated, “It is too early in the investigation to comment on what the main contributing factors to the crash were, however, it does not seem as though the road was in a detrimental or unsafe condition.”
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Community Mourns the Loss
The motorsport community has been deeply affected by the tragedy. Wayne Christie, president of MotorSport New Zealand, expressed his condolences, saying, “Our thoughts are with the families and friends of these two competitors and everyone involved with the Arcadia Road Rallysprint. It is only natural that this terrible tragedy will shock and upset everyone in the motorsports world. We will be offering support to all those involved in the coming days.”
Tributes have poured in on social media from various members of the motorsport community. World Rally Championship winner Hayden Paddon wrote, “It was so sad that two great people were taken too soon yesterday. Brooklyn Horan was one of the most exciting young rally stars, and she was destined for great things. Tyson, on the other hand, was a huge rally fan and family man.”
Winger Motorsport also expressed their condolences: “On behalf of the team at Winger Motorsport, we send our condolences to the friends and family of Brooklyn Horan and his co-driver Tyson.”
Remembering Brooklyn and Tyson
Brooklyn Horan was remembered as a rising star in the rally world, full of potential and promise. 1Eighty Racing shared, “Such a raw talent! On the track, we will miss you, and our thoughts are with your family.”
Hodgson Motorsport reflected on Brooklyn’s impact, writing, “It’s times like these that you remember that the sport we chose comes with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. Brooklyn you were an amazing, kind, loving, happy kid and that hadn’t changed years later when we crossed paths again back at off-roading last year. The cheeky smile was still the same; you had just grown a wee bit taller.”
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Tyson Jemmett, a passionate rally fan and dedicated family man, leaves behind his wife, Lucy, who is expecting their first child. Friends and colleagues have started a fundraiser to support Lucy and their unborn daughter during this difficult time.
Looking Ahead
The motorsport community is now focused on understanding the factors that led to this devastating accident and ensuring that such tragedies are prevented in the future. The loss of Brooklyn Horan and Tyson Jemmett serves as a somber reminder of the inherent risks in motorsport, and their memories will continue to inspire those who knew and admired them.