Three Skiers Killed in Tragic Collision

A fatal car crash in New Zealand on Wednesday killed three South Korean skiers.

The crash involved a four-wheel-drive vehicle and a van. Emergency services were notified of the crash at about 3:15 p.m. local time, and, according to Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker—who was cited in a report from Stuff —will investigate the crash’s cause.

Members of the South Korean national ski team were in the crash, and a source told The New Zealand Herald that a recent Olympic competitor witnessed the crash, but the identities of the deceased remain unclear. The Korea Ski and Snowboard Association has told local media that the deceased weren’t members of the national team. However, a source close to the national team told The New Zealand Herald that the deceased were all ski racers.

“Everybody is very shocked [it’s a] very sad loss for our ski family,” he said. “They are so young and very talented racers.”

The team is in New Zealand to participate in the Winter Games held at Cardrona, Coronet Peak, and The Remarkables. They were training at Roundhill Ski Area at Tekapo. The Winter Games are scheduled to begin on Friday, August 23rd.

The crash took place on State Highway 79. Two other people were seriously injured, including the driver of the four-wheel-drive vehicle. The injured survivors were airlifted to a hospital. All three of those who died were traveling in the van.

Last year, on the same stretch of road, a campervan crash killed three people.

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