Van crashes into runners at The Bear Race in Avery County, North Carolina with ‘one killed and five hurt’ in Linville

ONE person has died and at least five more are injured after a van crashed into a crowd of runners at the start of a race on Thursday.

A driver was working The Bear Race in North Carolina when they plowed into the unsuspecting runners, first responders told The Sun.

The horror crash occurred at around 6.50pm ET in Linville.

The driver was working with the race to transport people up and down the mountainside, Linville Highway Patrol said.

At one point, the van accelerated into the runners before hitting a 4x4 vehicle at the event, reported.

One person was killed and several victims were severely hurt after being struck.

EMS told The Sun that the survivors had broken bones and internal injuries but all were non-life-threatening.

Multiple ambulances and a rescue unit from a surrounding county responded to the scene.

Troopers are still investigating the events that led up to the tragedy, but officials say there was no malicious intent or terroristic intentions behind it.

The five-mile race was canceled after the incident.

Around 900 people had signed up for the race, according to local media.

The Grandfather Mountain Highland Games released a statement in the wake of the tragedy.

"Oh behalf of myself and the entire Grandfather Mountain Highland Games organization and family, we are deeply saddened by tonight's devastating event and extend our condolences to those affected," Grandfather Mountain Highland Games president Steve Quillin said.

The rest of the weekend's events are set to go on as planned, according to organizers.

The identity of the deceased was not released as of late Thursday night.