A stunning crash during a Commonwealth Games track race in Birmingham on Sunday left several injured, including British competitor Matt Walls, who was thrown into the stands.
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The Omnium Olympic champion received treatment for more than 40 minutes after the accident before being taken away by ambulance. Spectators were also injured by the bicycle and the cyclist himself.
“Matt is conscious and speaking as he did after the accident and is being treated in hospital,” Team England said in a tweet.
Matt Walls was taken to hospital as a precaution after falling in the men’s cycling race.
We send our best wishes to the riders and spectators involved in the incident and will provide another update as soon as we can.
– Team England (@TeamEngland) July 31, 2022
The 24-year-old racer tried to dodge other riders who had fallen on the track in front of him during qualifying for the scratch race, but as he swerved on the elevated portion of the track, he caught the wheel of another bike and flew onto the track grandstand.
Witnesses said a man was treated for a lacerated arm and a young girl was treated for unspecified injuries.
Qualifying was stopped after the accident involving a total of eight riders and the public was asked to leave the velodrome.
Another British driver, Matt Bostock, who was also involved in the accident, was taken to hospital with head and shoulder injuries. Canadian Mathias Guillemette was disqualified for causing the first fall.