Maria de Villota Crash: Formula One Driver Fighting For Her Life After Accident

Jul 04, 2012 09:53 AM EDT | Brice Smith

Spanish Formula One driver, Maria de Villota, suffered life-threatening injuries after a crash during a test run for the Marussia F1 team on Tuesday.

de Villota was rushed to nearby hospital after her early morning crash at Duxford Airfield circuit in Cambridgeshire. 

According to reports, the 32 year-old test driver from Madrid was conscious as she underwent treatment for head and face injuries at Addenbrooke's hospital in Cambridge.

"Maria is conscious and medical assessments are ongoing," said Marussia in a statement.  "Since Maria's arrival at the hospital at approximately 10.45 hrs this morning, she has been receiving the best medical attention possible at the hospital, which is the region's major trauma center."

According to Chris Mann, BBC Cambridge presenter, who saw the accident "The driver's helmet was impacted on the side of the truck. It just happened suddenly, a very shocking incident. The car slowed down as you see happen during a grand prix, for it to then be reversed into the pits, which was actually a tent. But at the last second it just suddenly accelerates again, so by the time it hit the truck, it was going 30 or 40 miles an hour."

He also said de Villota was trapped in the car for quite a while as emergency services tended to her.

Formula One drivers around the world have take to Twitter to show their support for de Villota. 

McLaren driver Jenson Button tweeted: "Terrible accident for Maria de Villota. My thoughts are with Maria and her family at this very difficult time." Ferrari's Fernando Alonso wrote: "I just got home and found out Maria's accident, we called the family and hopefully we will know more soon." 

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