Human Error May Have Caused Val Thorens Cable Car Crash
19th November 2024
Last modified on December 7th, 2024
That’s according to the Albertville prosecutor. The Cime Caron cable car hit the arrival station while carrying 16 workers preparing for the resort opening.
Six people were injured with two seriously hurt, but with non-life threatening injuries.
Four were slightly injured.
“The accident could have been the result of human error,” said the Prosecutor in a statement according to France 3.
“However this does not rule out other technical causes that investigations may discover.”
The lift was being manually operated at the time and the resort has said the operator was very experienced and very shocked.
The accident occurred at 7:30am last Tuesday morning and the weather conditions were described by the authorites as “challenging”.
Firefighters, paramedics, ski patrollers, and high-mountain rescue teams evacuated the injured workers.
A crisis management cell was set up and a mass casualty plan to coordinate the rescue.
The injured were treated at hospitals in Annecy and Grenoble.
The Cime Caron cable car was once the longest in the world at the time of its construction in 1982.
“The cable car was in construction mode to transport workers due to the high altitude project,” said Val Thorens in a statement.
“This operation mode, which is partially manual, is very different from the complete automation used in-season to transport skiers.
“We extend our support and thoughts to those affected by this accident.”
An investigation has been launched.
At the time the Albertville Prosecutor said that “It’s too early to know the exact circumstances that led to this accident.”
Asked about possible human error the authorities said it would “’refrain from commenting on the matter’ so as not to prejudice the enquiry.
“We will wait for the investigation to conclude.”
Val Thorens will still opened on Saturday 23rd November as planned, but the cable car to Caron remains closed while safety checks are carried out according to the directeur général of the lift company SETAM, Jérôme Grellet.
The lift is a very important one for the resort – not least for those coming from the neighbouring valley of Orelle.
Val Thorens, France. Image © PlanetSKI
The accident has been noted on the Val Thorens social media accounts with the resort saying:
“In very difficult weather conditions on site at over 3000 meters, an accident occurred around 7:30 am, this Tuesday, November 19, 2024, in the Val Thorens resort.
“A cabin of the Cime Caron cable car which was being used as part of an ongoing construction site and carrying 16 workers, hit the arrival station.
“2 people were seriously injured but not in a life-threatening condition and 4 slightly injured.
“The Prefect of Savoie has activated his crisis management unit, the departmental operational centre, and the mass casualty plan (NOVI), in order to coordinate the emergency services, in conjunction with the mayors of the municipalities concerned.
“Significant resources from the departmental fire and rescue service and the SAMU of Savoie are being deployed to care for the victims.
“The resort’s ski patrollers, the CRS Alpes and the PGHM are also on site.
“All victims and people involved are currently being evacuated by the Orelle-Caron gondola lift.”
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