charles de tornaco (june 7, 1927 - september 18, 1953) was a race car driver from belgium. he drove in formula one world championship grands prix. he died of a car accident in 1953. the accident happened in modena, italy while he was practicing for the race. de tornaco rolled his car over the barrier. there was no medical help available for him there, and he died on the way to a hospital in a private mercedes-benz c-class. he was 28.