Matthew Marker passed away at this weekend's Olympus
Rally

The rally racing community was hit with tragic news this weekend when 31 year old driver Matthew Marker was killed in a racing accident.

Last Saturday, April 30th, Marker was racing the Olympus Rally in Ocean Shores (WA) when the accident occurred. In an article from rally-america.com they explain that Marker's car went off the road on a right turn and hit a tree on the drivers side. Medics were quick to respond yet were unable to resuscitate him.

Christopher Gordon, Marker's co-driver, was not seriously injured in the accident.

The article also notes that "the sport of rally in North America has not had a competitor-related fatality since 2003" making this both a shock and a heartbreak for the close community of rally racing.

Rally America included what the other drivers had to say about the loss;

Team 600 co-driver Jake Blattner was close to Marker and remembers him as "a very passionate, energetic, hip gear-head that used to turn up with glowing neon lights under his car on the night stages, which the fans loved. Like everyone in the sport, Blattner is shaken but remains convinced that the organization does everything it can to keep competitors safe. Blattner said, "It s a dangerous sport but that s what sets it apart. It's you against the open road and the clock.

Condolences go out to Matthew Marker's friends and family.