Cable car collides with crane at French ski resort, 23 injured

A cable car collided with a crane at the French ski resort of Alpe d’Huez, injuring 23 people, including three who were critically injured, local authorities said.

The accident occurred on August 27 morning at an altitude of around 2,300 metres, with approximately 50 people aboard the cable car at the time, Alpe d’Huez Mayor Jean-Yves Noyrey said, NZ Herald reports.

“There are mainly people in shock and cases of concussion,” Noyrey said, adding that he believed most of those injured had already been discharged from hospital.

The mayor explained that cable cars are designed to stabilize themselves in the event of sudden braking. However, the impact with the crane caused the cabin to tilt, sending passengers sliding inside.

“They thought they were going to die, but the operator reacted well by reversing to level the cabin,” Noyrey said.

The regional prefecture confirmed that 23 people were injured in the incident, including three in critical condition and 13 who sustained serious injuries.

Emergency services were deployed to the resort following the collision, while authorities launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident.

By Vafa Guliyeva