Italian co-driver dies in rally crash in Bulgaria

Published 4:20 pm Sunday, July 19, 2009

SOFIA, Bulgaria — Rally organizers say an Italian co-driver has died after a race car he was in went off the road and slammed into a tree.

Rally Bulgaria director Dimitar Agura said Flavio Gugelmini died on the spot after the Peugeot 207 car driven by Brian Lavio of Switzerland hit a tree. Lavio was taken to hospital but he was not seriously injured.

The crash happened Sunday during the Rally Bulgaria near the mountain resort of Borovets. Rally organizers decided to cancel the race.