UPDATE: Alex Zanardi undergoes surgery following accident with a vehicle

Paralympic champion and former Formula 1 driver Alex Zanardi has undergone neurosurgery following an accident involving a heavy vehicle which caused a head injury.

Zanardi was transferred to a local hospital by helicopter after a road accident in Pienza during a national Paralympic handbike race when he lost control of his handbike and hit a truck in the oncoming lane.

Italian team coach Mario Valentini told La Repubblica: “It happened on a straight downhill, just before the road makes a slight bend. Alex slightly crossed in to the other lane.

“The truck tried to steer but was not able to avoid the impact.”

The 53-year-old had both of his legs amputated when he suffered a horrific accident in 2001 in a CART (now IndyCar) race but came back to win four Paralympic gold medals in the 2012 and 2016 games.

More to follow…