At least eight people have been killed and dozens
injured at a show in Mexico after a modified pick-
up known as a monster truck crashed into
spectators.
At least one child was said to be among the dead.
The monster truck - with tyres said to be 1.5 metres
(nearly 5ft) high - ploughed into a stand.
The vehicle was taking part in a demonstration at an
annual air show attended by thousands in the northern
city of Chihuahua on Saturday evening.
'Hit his head'
The monster truck was performing a demolition stunt
which involved crushing two cars beneath its huge
tyres.
Eyewitness video showed the truck completing one
pass, driving over the cars, then turning for a second
attempt.
It accelerated much more quickly this time and landed
heavily over the second car before veering off to the
right and into the stand.
were treated in hospital
A spokesman for the Chihuahua state prosecutors'
office, Carlos Gonzalez, put the number of injured at
about 80.
He said prosecutors were looking at the possibility that
mechanical failure meant the driver was unable to
disengage the accelerator.
But some witnesses said the driver may have lost
control after hitting his head on the interior of the
truck.
Daniel Dominguez told Associated Press he was
watching the show with a group of relatives.
"The driver hit his head and his helmet flew off," Mr
Dominguez said. "The truck came directly at where we
were.''
Another spectator, Jesus Manuel Ibarra, told the
agency: "I fell over, and when I turned around I saw
the tyre very close. It hit me and threw me to the other
side."
A call has gone out from local health services for blood
donations.
The BBC's Will Grant in Mexico says some people are
now calling for an investigation into safety measures at
events like this and are asking how the audience could
be placed so close to trucks performing stunts with only
limited barriers in place.
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