( CNN ) -- A woman watching the Dakar Rally in Argentina died Saturday after a vehicle in the event went off the track , striking her and other fans , race organizers said . Sonia Natalia Gallardo died Saturday afternoon at a hospital in Cordoba , Argentina , race organizers said in a statement on the event 's Web site . The others who were hit were being treated for `` slight injuries , '' the statement said . The incident , which involved German driver Mirco Schultis and Swiss partner Ulrich Leardi , occurred in the race 's first stage , from Buenos Aires to Cordoba , the organizers said . Schultis and Leardi were driving in a 4x4 Desert Warrior truck , according to the Web site . Tomas Fragueiro , a photojournalist with Argentina 's La Voz del Interior , witnessed the accident and told CNN that he helped police and medical teams take care of the victims . `` I was in the internal zone of the 30-kilometer curve where most reporters were standing , '' said Fragueiro in a telephone interview . `` Security did not include the security tapes required in most races and [ Gallardo ] was standing outside a safety zone , '' he said . Race officials offered their condolences to the victim 's family and called for organizers and authorities to `` exercise the greatest care and keep within special 'spectator zones . ' `` Established in 1978 , the Dakar race is an intrepid , off-the-beaten-path rally that involves modified vehicles . Known for its strenuous itineraries , the race first took place from Paris , France , to Dakar , Senegal , and later moved to other regions of the world . This year 's Dakar race is in South America for the first time . The race spans from Argentina to Chile from January 1 to 17 . CNN 's Helena De Moura contributed to this report .
Sonia Natalia Gallardo dies at a hospital in Cordoba , race organizers say . The incident involved German driver Mirco Schultis and Czech partner Ulrich Leardi . Spectator was standing `` outside a safety zone , '' photojournalist says .