Calgary bobsled-track accident: How the chain to a moveable barrier hit by the teens works
The teens who crashed while tobogganing at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary on Feb. 6, 2016, hit a chain stretched across the track that holds a movable metal barrier used to switch between luge and bobsled runs where they merge.
Teens crashed into chain holding moveable metal barrier used to separate bobsled/skeleton and luge tracks
This story was originally published on Feb. 8, 2016.
The teens who crashed whiletobogganing at Canada Olympic Park in Calgary on Feb. 6, 2016, hit a chainstretched across the track that holds a movable metal barrier used to switch between luge and bobsled runs where they merge.
The crash early Saturday morning killed twin brothers Jordan and Evan Caldwell,and injured six others, some severely.
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Here's how the barrier works:
- There are two branches of track at the top of the hill. One branch is usedfor bobsled and skeleton, whilelugeathletes slide fromseparate starts on the other branch.
- The two branches converge into one between Corners Fiveand Six and all athletes slide on the same track the rest of the way down.
- The intersection is controlled by a moveable barriermade of metal and covered in hockey boards.
- It's used to separate the intersection and maintain a consistent width onthe track. It's secured to one wall when luge athletes are slidingand held to the other wall when the track is being used for bobsled or skeleton.
- The barrier is held in place by a chain and a "come-along" winch so it does not move when hit or bumped by a sled.
- The barrier is actually asafety feature for athletes without it, theycould potentially T-bone the wall on the way into Corner Six.