Eight-year old Australian Junior Dragster racer Anita Board tragically lost her life from injuries sustained in a racing accident at the Perth Motorplex on Saturday, Police confirmed today.

Board, just three days removed from her eighth birthday — the minimum age for Junior Dragsters competitor in Australia — was making licensing runs in her “Pony Power” dragster when she reportedly lost control and struck the concrete retaining wall at the Kwinana Beach strip.

Racing at Perth was halted for more than two hours as medical personnel tended to Board and Police conducted their investigation. The Perth Motorplex later issued a statement, sharing, “Unfortunately an incident occurred during racing at Perth Motorplex this afternoon and a driver has been taken to hospital. “Police are currently at the scene and on their advice racing has been suspended until further notice,” a spokesperson said.

According to media sources, Board’s injuries were so severe that she had to be revived at the scene before being transported to a Rockingham Hospital and later to Prince Margaret Hospital, where her family remained by her bedside, her grandfather telling 7 News that the family, “went to hell and back hoping for a miracle that didn’t come.”

Police confirmed the worst on Sunday afternoon, that Anita, who only a d earlier had been gleaming with pride over her new dragster, had succumbed to her injuries. “Tragically, the eight-year-old girl involved in a crash at the Kwinana Motorplex yesterday has died as a result of the injuries she sustained,” stated a Police spokeperson.

Anita’s father Ian posted, “Our angel setting off on what was meant to be a day to remember … my heart is in a million pieces.”

“Everyone extends their sincere and deepest condolences to Anita’s family, friends and the wider drag racing community at this tragic time,” said an Australian National Drag Racing Association representative.