A passenger in a Top Gear crash involving former cricketer Andrew Flintoff has claimed to have suffered post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and back injuries, according to court documents. The incident occurred in December 2022 at Dunsfold Airfield in Surrey during the filming of a "power test" for the BBC's Top Gear program.
Incident Details
Racing driver Paul Rees, who was driving the Morgan Super 3 during the filming, is suing BBC Studios for upwards of £100,000. Court documents state that Rees, who has experience as a stunt driver, had not previously driven a Morgan Super 3. The crash involved an attempt to drift the three-wheeled car around the airfield's "Chicago" bend.
According to the particulars of Rees's claim, neither the driver nor Flintoff were warned about the dangers of such maneuvers or the risk of the vehicle rolling over. The claim asserts that a "slide or a skid was intended, forming part of the script written by the Defendant." The document details that approximately 50 minutes into the driving segment, the vehicle overturned while turning and accelerating. Both Rees and Flintoff sustained injuries.
Rees's legal case argues that BBC Studios failed to inform the individuals not to attempt to drift the car and did not disclose the potential risks associated with three-wheeled vehicles of this nature, including "soft signs" that could indicate a risk of rolling.
A statement from BBC Studios indicated that the company disputes the claim and is defending its position. "As it's now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further," the statement read.