体坛英语新闻：U.S. race car driver Dan Wheldon dies in 15-car crash

BEIJING, Oct. 17 (Xinhuanet) -- American race car driver Briton Dan Wheldon died in a 15-car crash accident at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway on Sunday, according to media report.

The fatal accident blew Wheldon's car flying up over other vehicles and landing in a catch fence.

The driver was sent by helicopter to University Medical Center in Las Vegas before he was announced dead two hours later.

"IndyCar is very sad to announce that Dan Wheldon has passed away from unsurvivable injuries," IndyCar Series CEO Randy Bernard said in a statement.

The 33-year-old driver, who lived in St. Petersburg, Florida, won the Indianapolis 500 on its 100th anniversary in May, 2011.

It was Indycar's first fatal accident since U.S. driver Paul Dana's death at Homestead warm-up in 2006.