MOSCOW, Oct. 9 (UPI) -- Russian ski-jumper Pavel Karelin, 21, was killed in a car accident in central Russia Sunday, his coach announced.
Karelin, a leading member of the Russian team, was driving a Mercedes that was involved in a four-vehicle wreck on an intercity highway near Nizhny Novogrod, police said.
"The tragedy took place early this morning," coach Alexander Svyatov told Russia's RIA Novosti news agency. "Airbags in his car failed. Pavel died, his two friends are in serious condition."
RIA Novosti said Karelin was a rising star in international ski jumping. He began competing internationally just three years ago but won three FIS World Cup medals and had his sights set on the upcoming Winter Olympics in Sochi.
Alexander Uvarov, head of Russia's Federation of Ski Jumping and Nordic Combined, called Karelin's death "a tremendous loss not only for the discipline, but for all Russian sports."
