A tragic head-on collision on a New Zealand highway has claimed the lives of three South Korean skiers and left two others seriously injured. The incident occurred when a van carrying the skiers collided with a four-wheel-drive vehicle at an intersection near the rural town of Geraldine on the South Island.
According to local police inspector Vicki Walker, the vehicles were traveling in opposite directions before the collision took place. The crash resulted in the deaths of three individuals who were passengers in the van, while another person traveling with them sustained critical injuries. The driver of the four-wheel-drive vehicle was also seriously injured in the collision.
Following the accident, both survivors were airlifted to Christchurch Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Authorities from New Zealand and South Korea have refrained from disclosing the identities of the victims involved in the tragic incident.
Shim Hye-min, a representative from South Korea's Sport and Olympic Committee, confirmed that the three individuals who lost their lives were South Korean ski athletes who were in New Zealand for training purposes. Further details regarding the victims were not immediately available from the committee or South Korea's Ski and Snowboard Association.
The Foreign Ministry of South Korea has stated that they are offering consular assistance in the wake of the tragedy but did not provide additional information at this time.
