A total of 12 people were injured when a tower supporting Whistler
Blackcomb's Excalibur gondola, which runs from Whistler Village to Blackcomb
Mountain, partially collapsed. The accident occurred at approximately 2:30 in
the afternoon when the fourth tower (from the base of the gondola) separated.
Fortunately none of the gondolas came off the cable. One hit a house and
another hit a bus shelter, while another rested just above Fitzsimmons Creek.
53 snowboarders and skiers had to be rescued from gondola cars on the
lift's lower loop, which runs from the village to Blackcomb's Base Two. All of
the gondolas on the upper loop were able to unload as usual. All passengers
were evacuated by 6:00 PM, and everyone injured was treated in the local
Whistler clinic for cuts and bruises, and was released by the early evening.
The Excalibur Gondola was built and designed by Doppelmayr, the same
company that built the brand new Peak 2 Peak Gondola, which just opened to the
public on Friday, December 12th. (See Push.ca's coverage of the
opening ceremony here.) The
Excalibur Gondola has had no previously reported accidents, and is tested
annually by the B.C. Safety Authority; it was recently tested (and passed) this
fall.
Coverage of the accident has appeared across the Internet, both on
mainstream news sites and various snowboard sites.
Push.ca's official snowboard photo supplier, Whistler Creek Productions,
was on location for the accident and provided these photos and video.
