Spectator killed in race at Germany's Nürburgring

German police and organizers of the VLN Nürburgring Endurance Cup confirmed on Saturday that one of the cars involved in the race flew off the track and over a fence into the spectators. The race was immediately halted and was not restarted.

"The VLN and race organizers are deeply moved and their thoughts are with families and friends of the accident victims," a statement released by the organizers said.

The driver was Jann Mardenborough of Britain, and the 23-year-old was brought to hospital for checks following the accident. "What happened today was a tragedy," said a statement by Mardenborough's Nissan team. "We are all deeply shocked and sad about these events."

Police and organizers were unable to say just how many people had been injured. The spectator who died passed away as medics were trying to revive him at the track's medical center. The injured were taken to local hospitals for treatment.

The accident occurred during the first race of this year's 10-race series held on the Nordschleife, the oldest portion of the Nürburgring, located in Germany's western Eifel region.

The Nürburgring has often been the home to Formula One's German Grand Prix and was originally scheduled to host the event in 2015. However, earlier this month, motorsport's governing body, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) officially dropped the German Grand Prix, which had been planned for July 19. This came after the organizers refused to pay the fee demanded by the commercial rights holder, Bernie Ecclestone.

pfd,glb/sb (SID, dpa)