Once the track was reported clear of debris, the safety car was withdrawn and the race

restarted on
lap five. Jonathan Palmer, commentating alongside Murray Walker for the BBC, remarked how quick
Schumacher was, as his time in the warm-up session on Sunday morning gave rise to speculation
that he was going to make one pit stop and, therefore, race with a heavier car than Senna, who was
planning to make two, as was conventional. Martin Brundle had told
BBC Grandstand presenter Steve Rider that McLaren were going to make two pit stops.[26]
On the seventh lap, the second lap at racing speeds after the stoppage, Senna was leading Michael
Schumacher. Going at a speed of 305 km/h (190 mph), Senna's car could not take the turn at the
Tamburello left corner, and, continuing in a straight line, struck the unprotected concrete barrier at a
speed of 211 km/h (131 mph), reduced as a result of the driver's effort to brake. [30] As was
subsequently ascertained, Senna was killed instantly. [31] When track officials examined the wreckage
of Senna's racing car, they found a furled Austrian flag. Senna had planned to raise it after the race,
in honour of Ratzenberger.[32]
At 2:17 pm local time, a red flag was shown to indicate the race was stopped and FIA race
doctor Sid Watkins arrived at the scene to treat Senna. When a race is stopped under a red flag,
cars must slow down and make their way back to the pit lane or starting grid unless notified of a
restart. This protects race marshals and medical staff at the crash scene, and allows easier access
for medical cars to the incident. Approximately 10 minutes after Senna's crash, the Larrousse team,
which had been "concentrating on fixing [Comas's] car and didn't realise Senna had crashed", [8] sent
Comas to the end of the pit lane for release despite the circuit being closed under red flags.
[33]
 Comas described "a big confusion about whether (he) could rejoin", and that eventually the pit
lane marshal allowed him onto the race course.[8] Marshals frantically waved him down as he
approached the scene of the accident travelling at close to full speed. [34] Comas was able to stop his
Larrousse racer before reaching the emergency vehicles and marshals on the track. BBC
commentator Murray Walker and Eurosport commentator John Watson were both appalled. Walker
commented: "Now this is ridiculous! I mean, how can that Larrousse get out of the pits when there's
a red flag?!", and Watson supplemented: "I'm gobsmacked! I think that's the most ridiculous thing I
have ever seen at any time in my life!".[34] After seeing Senna's accident scene, Comas was so
distressed that he withdrew from the race, and did not speak of what he witnessed for more than 10
years.[8]
The pictures shown on the world feed, supplied by host broadcaster RAI, of Senna being treated
were considered by the BBC, the corporation responsible for broadcasting the San Marino Grand
Prix live to viewers in the United Kingdom, to be too upsetting for general viewing at the time (around
1:20 pm BST), and the BBC abandoned RAI's feed to focus on their own camera in the pit lane.
[35]
 Other broadcasters including ESPN took the BBC feed from the pit lane. BBC
commentator Murray Walker has frequently talked about how upsetting it was to have to talk to
viewers whilst avoiding mentioning the images shown on RAI. Referring to the number of times the
incident was replayed on the world feed, Ferrari team principal Jean Todt stated that "even if you
didn't want to watch it, you could barely fail to". [36] Waiting on pit lane, Martin Brundle reported that
shortly after Senna's crash, televisions in garages were being switched off, but that reports were that
Senna was okay.[8] Senna was lifted from the wrecked Williams, and after approximately fifteen
minutes of on-site medical attention, was airlifted directly to Maggiore Hospital, becoming the third
and final driver to be admitted there during the weekend. Medical teams continued to treat him
during the flight. Thirty-seven minutes after Senna's fatal crash, at 2:55 pm local time, the race was
restarted.[37]