Korea’s national ski team was involved in a head-on crash on State Highway 7 where three people died. The accident occurred after a training day, and it is unclear what caused the crash.
The identities of the three deceased and whether they are athletes or wider team members are yet to be confirmed.
A source close to the team from Korea said that they were all ski racers. As this is a shocking news for their ski community. Two others were seriously injured in the crash.
Aoraki Area Commander Inspector Vicki Walker stated that the vehicles travelled in opposite directions when the crash occurred.
Police are working to identify the victims today formally and have referred the deaths to the Coroner.
A source confirmed that Korea’s national ski team members were involved in the crash but had not yet heard who had died.
Several other team members, including a recent Olympic competitor, witnessed the crash.
The team is in New Zealand to compete at the Winter Games in Queenstown at Cardrona, Coronet Peak, and The Remarkables.
Videos of team members training on land and snow were shared online.
A spokesperson from the Korean Embassy in Wellington could not comment on the fatal crash as the investigation is still ongoing. The driver of the 4WD was also seriously injured.
The incident occurred on the same stretch of road where a campervan crash killed three people in April last year.
It also comes after one person died in a collision between a truck and a car nearby just a week earlier.
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