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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 2009
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Skiers Pulled From Gondolas After Tower Collapses

12 injured in accident at Canada's Whistler

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(Newser) – Twelve people were injured and dozens more were stranded for hours after a gondola support tower collapsed yesterday at a British Columbia ski resort, the Vancouver Sun reports. A rep for the Whistler Blackcomb resort—which is sharing 2010 Winter Olympics duties with Vancouver—said they don't know why the tower separated from its base. One rider described "a really big jolt" before the cars stopped.

The Excalibur Gondola, which starts at Whistler Village and goes partway up Blackcomb Mountain, was installed in 1994 and isn't part of the Olympics transportation plan. While none of yesterday's injuries were serious, 53 skiers and snowboarders had to wait for hours before being helped to the ground by rescue crews using ladders. The resort and a state agency are investigating the accident.

Crews work at the scene after a gondola support tower partially collapsed at Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008.
Crews work at the scene after a gondola support tower partially collapsed at Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
Twelve people were injured when a tower supporting Whister Blackcomb's Excalibur Gondola collapsed Tuesday.
Twelve people were injured when a tower supporting Whister Blackcomb's Excalibur Gondola collapsed Tuesday.   (AP Photo/Jonathan Hayward, The Canadian Press)
A ski patrol official talks with a firefighter after a tower partially collapsed in Whistler, British Columbia, on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. Police said there were no serious injuries in the accident.
A ski patrol official talks with a firefighter after a tower partially collapsed in Whistler, British Columbia, on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. Police said there were no serious injuries in the accident.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press)
Passengers are trapped inside two gondolas after a tower partially collapsed at the ski resort in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008.
Passengers are trapped inside two gondolas after a tower partially collapsed at the ski resort in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press)
Crews work at the scene after a gondola support tower partially collapsed at Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. No serious injuries were reported.
Crews work at the scene after a gondola support tower partially collapsed at Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2008. No serious injuries were reported.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
A gondola car hangs over a creek after a support tower partially collapsed at Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday Dec. 16, 2008. No serious injuries were reported.
A gondola car hangs over a creek after a support tower partially collapsed at Blackcomb Mountain in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, on Tuesday Dec. 16, 2008. No serious injuries were reported.   (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck)
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