MILAN, Italy -- Italian slalom skier Bruno Noeckler, national team coach Ilario Pegorari and team trainer Karl Pichler have been killed in an automobile accident in New Zealand, the Italian Ski Federation (FISI) said Wednesday.
The team masseur, Signor Ruzza, was injured in the accident, which officials said was a head-on collision which took place Wednesday at Ohakune, a ski resort in the central mountains of New Zealand's North Island.
Federation officials said Arrigo Gattai, president of the Italian federation, was informed of the tragedy Wednesday morning in a telephone call from Joseph Messner, racing director of the Italian national men's Alpine skiing team.
Noeckler, 26, from Bolzano, was one of Italy's most promising Alpine skiers. He placed sixth in the Lake Placid Olympic slalom and nine days ago won a giant slalom event at Monte Hutt in New Zealand.
Pegorari had been team coach for several years. He previosuly was a member of the Italian national ski team.
The 10-member Italian team left for a tour of Australia and New Zealand several weeks ago as part of their training for the coming ski season in Europe. They extended their stay in New Zealand because of poor snow conditions in Australia.
