Stay up to date with notifications from TheĀ Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Three South Korean ski athletes dead after car crash in New Zealand

Three South Korean skiers were killed and two people were seriously injured after their vehicles collided head-on in New Zealand

Via AP news wire
Thursday 22 August 2024 08:51 EDT
New Zealand South Korea Crash
New Zealand South Korea Crash

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A head-on collision of vehicles on a New Zealand highway killed three South Korean skiers and seriously injured two other people, local police and South Korean sports officials said.

The van and a four-wheel-drive vehicle were traveling in opposite directions before crashing at an intersection near the rural South Island town of Geraldine, the districtā€™s police inspector Vicki Walker said.

The collision Wednesday killed three of the vanā€™s passengers and critically injured another person who was traveling with them, Walker said. The driver of the four-wheel-drive was also seriously injured and both survivors were airlifted to Christchurch Hospital, she said.

New Zealand and South Korean authorities didnā€™t identify the crash victims.

New Zealand South Korea Crash
New Zealand South Korea Crash
New Zealand South Korea Crash
New Zealand South Korea Crash
New Zealand South Korea Crash
New Zealand South Korea Crash

Shim Hye-min, an official from South Koreaā€™s Sport and Olympic Committee, said the three victims who died were South Korean ski athletes who were visiting New Zealand for training. The committee and South Koreaā€™s Ski and Snowboard Association didnā€™t immediately provide more information.

South Koreaā€™s Foreign Ministry said it was providing consular assistance but did not provide further details.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in