Scarf Strangles Karting Teen

A teenage girl from Cambridgeshire has been killed in a go-karting tragedy.

She died shortly after she drove a go-kart around an indoor track and her scarf came loose and got caught in the engine, cutting off her airway.

Suzanne Cornwell, 18, was one of a group of people invited to a racing track for a private after-hours session with a member of staff reported to have let the group in to the circuit.

Paramedics and police were called to Cambridgeshire Raceway in Caxton at 9.40pm last Thursday.

East of England Ambulance Service said the teenager had a "severe injury to her neck" and was unconscious when paramedics arrived.

Suzanne, from Hardwick, was rushed to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, but died the next day.

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Police said today that a joint investigation had been launched with South Cambridgeshire Council.

It has been reported that the marshal, who worked at the site for two years, has now been sacked, as all the other staff had left at 8pm.

Cambridgeshire Raceway, formerly known as Kartsport, was bought by the Peterborough Raceway company in July.

It has an indoor circuit as well as a 700 metre-long outdoor circuit, and is due to host the British Schools Karting Championship in January 2010.

(BMcC/KMcA)