Mont Tremblant Gondola Crash Leaves One Dead, One Critical
A fatal gondola crash occurred at the popular Mont Tremblant resort. Two people were thrown from the gondola when it was struck by a piece of construction equipment. One person died at the scene and the other was airlifted to a Montreal hospital in critical condition.
The crash occurred shortly before noon when the gondola was halfway up the mountain between its base and the summit. The construction equipment was being operated by a third party contractor who was working on a nearby project.
The identities of the two people who were involved in the crash have not been released. The Sûreté du Québec (SQ) is investigating the incident and no charges have been laid at this time.
The gondola remains closed until further notice. The resort has cancelled Sunday's activities on the mountain, including an ongoing Blues Festival.
Ae MEssage from Tremblant read
"Today, Sunday, July 16, an accident took place in Tremblant, involving the panoramic cable car and construction machinery operated by a third party.
"We regret to confirm, following the announcement of Süreté du Quebec, the death of one of the two victims, while the other was transferred to a hospital.
"We are deeply saddened by this situation and Station Mont Tremblant offers its sincere sympathies to everyone involved.
"The cable car remains closed until further notice.
"Thank you for your understanding."
This is the first fatal gondola accident at Mont Tremblant since 1998.
Injured Woman Remains in Critical Condition
The woman who was airlifted to a Montreal hospital in critical condition after the Mont Tremblant gondola crash remains in a precarious condition.
Eric Cadotte, a spokesperson for the Sûreté du Québec (SQ), said on Monday that the woman is still in the intensive care unit and her condition is "very serious."
The woman, who has not been identified, was one of two people who were thrown from the gondola when it was struck by a piece of construction equipment on Sunday. The other person, a man, died at the scene.
The SQ is still investigating the cause of the crash, but they believe that the construction equipment may have been moving too close to the gondola.
The gondola remains closed until further notice.
Authorities Issue Warning to Gondola Operators
Following the fatal gondola crash at Mont Tremblant, authorities have issued a warning to gondola operators across Canada.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) said that the crash is a reminder of the importance of safety in the operation of gondolas.
"This is a tragic accident that could have been avoided," said TSB chair Kathy Fox. "We urge gondola operators to take steps to ensure the safety of their passengers."
The TSB has issued a number of recommendations to gondola operators, including:
- Conducting regular safety inspections of gondolas
- Training staff on how to operate gondolas safely
- Installing safety features on gondolas, such as barriers to prevent objects from striking the gondolas
The TSB is continuing to investigate the Mont Tremblant crash.