Van crashes into runners at The Bear Race in Avery County, North Carolina with 'one killed and five hurt' in Linville | The Sun

ONE person has died with at least five more injured after a van violently plowed through a crowd of runners.

The driver was working with the The Bear Race in North Carolina when they rammed the unsuspecting runners on Thursday, first responders told the Sun.

Several victims were severely injured and suffered broken bones after being struck.

EMS told the Sun there were broken bones and internal injuries but all were non-life-threatening.

The event occurred around 6.50pm ET in Linville.

The driver was working with the race to transport people up and down the mountainside, Linville Highway Patrol said.

The van accelerated into the runners before hitting a 4×4 vehicle at the event, WSOC-TV reported.

Multiple ambulances and a rescue unit from a surrounding county responded to the event.

Troopers are still investigating the events that led up to the tragedy, but officials say there was no malicious intent or terroristic intentions behind it.

The 5-mile race was canceled after the incident.

Around 900 people were signed up for the race.

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games released a statement in the wake of the tragedy.

"Oh behalf of myself and the entire Grandfather Mountain Highland Games organization and family, we are deeply saddened by tonight's devastating event and extend our condolences to those affected," said Grandfather Mountain Highland Games president Steve Quillin.

The rest of the weekend's events are set to go on as planned, organizers said.

More to follow…For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online.

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