A devastating accident at the Mont-Tremblant Ski Resort near Montreal, Quebec, has left one man dead and a woman fighting for her life. The incident occurred on Sunday when a piece of construction equipment struck a sightseeing gondola, causing the two occupants to fall several meters to the ground.
According to reports, the impact was described as "very brutal" by Sûreté du Québec spokesperson Éric Cadotte. The force of the collision ripped a section off the gondola, leaving the passengers with no chance of survival. Authorities are investigating why a drilling machine was operating beneath the gondolas on a Sunday and have not ruled out the possibility of criminal negligence. The CBC reported that police believe the accident was caused by the drilling machine.
Both victims, who were in their 50s and from Ontario, were ejected from the gondola. The woman remains in critical condition, while the man tragically succumbed to his injuries.
The provincial police are conducting a thorough investigation, interviewing witnesses, including resort employees and the operator of the drilling machine. Activities at the popular resort were temporarily suspended following the tragic event.
The Tremblant Resort Association expressed their deep regret over the incident and offered their sincere condolences to the families and friends of the victims. They confirmed that the construction machinery involved was operated by a third-party contractor. Annique Aird, vice president of sales, marketing and communications, issued a statement expressing the resort's sadness and condolences.
