Olympics Star Dies In Luge Crash

An Olympics star has died in an horrific 90mph luge accident at the winter games.


Georgian hopeful Nodar Kumaritashvili flew off the track and into a metal pole in Whistler, Canada.  Medics administered CPR at the scene following the second of two training runs.  Kumaritashvili was then placed on a stretcher with blood pouring from his head and taken away in an ambulance.
An International Olympic Committee official confirmed this morning that the luger had died.

Witnesses told how the 21-year-old crashed at one of the fastest points near the bottom of the track on the final 270-degree turn. 

He hit both sides of the wall before being hurled over the top and smashing into the pole at the side of the track. 

Earlier Italian Armin Zoeggler, the 2002 and 2006 gold medalist, also crashed but was not badly injured.  On Wednesday there were several accidents during women's luge training runs.  Romania's Violeta Stramaturaru was knocked unconscious for a few minutes and taken to hospital.

The track is widely-regarded as one of the most dangerous in the sport.

I have seen the video but have elected not to post it.