Three Korean skiers dead after car crash in New Zealand

By Park Sae-jin Posted : August 22, 2024, 17:02 Updated : August 22, 2024, 17:02
Courtesy of the Korea Ski & Snowboard Association

SEOUL, August 22 (AJU PRESS) - Three members of Korea's national ski team were killed in a head-on collision near Geraldine in New Zealand's Canterbury region on Wednesday, according to The Herald.

The accident occurred when the vehicle carrying them, traveling in the opposite direction, collided with a sports utility vehicle (SUV). The identities of the victims and the cause of the crash remain unclear.

Among the deceased are a national team coach and two alpine ski racers. Two others, including a Korean skier and the SUV driver, were seriously injured and airlifted to Christchurch, about 130 kilometers from the crash site.

The Korea Ski & Snowboard Association (KSA) is having difficulties obtaining details, as they were on a private trip. "We believe they were planning to compete in the Winter Games NZ, a biennial event scheduled to start Friday," said an official at the association.

New Zealand is a popular training destination for Korean winter sports athletes from June to September due to its cold weather during the southern hemisphere's winter.

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