This is heartbreaking.
Anita Board, a drag racer, died at a hospital in Australia following an accident at the track. She was 8 years old.
Terrible news out of Princess Margaret Hospital - little drag car driver Anita Board, 8, has died
MORE: https://t.co/zk7gQ2fLjp#perthnews #wanews pic.twitter.com/JcCjjtpifI
— The West Australian (@westaustralian) November 12, 2017
The West Australian provided this account.
Beard was racing her dragster when she lost control and slammed into a wall near an exit gate. She was gravely wounded and had to be revived at the track before being taken to a local hospital.
The Australian quoted a witness who said dragsters as young a 8-years-old race at the track, and are placed in a division with racers in the same age range.
The youngster drivers, the news story said, can reach speed of up to 31 miles per hour. Her purple dragster, with "Pony Power" on the side, was powered by a 210cc engine.
Ian Board, Anita's father, posted on the famikly Facebook page: "Our angel setting off on what was meant to be a day to remember ... my heart is in a million pieces".
Beard is part of a racing family in Australian, and her father, Ian Beard, has a Facebook page filled with photos of his family in racing gear and around cars, like this one that was supplied by the family:
Anita Board, family provided photo