Austria Bobsleigh Crash Leaves Driver Stretchered Off at Winter Olympics

An austria bobsleigh crash in heat two of the four-man final left the Austrian driver upside down and stretchered off, triggering a delay of more than 15 minutes and the team’s disqualification from the run. The incident matters now because it removed one entry from the final and prompted immediate medical attention and track repairs during the medal event.

Austria Bobsleigh Crash details

The Austrian four-man sled reached roughly 117 kilometres-per-hour as it approached the final quarter of the course when a wobble on a left bend sent the sleigh off course and overturning. Video replay showed the sled sliding down the track upside down and stopping short of the finish line, so the run was not completed and the team was disqualified from the four-man competition.

Driver condition and response

The 27-year-old driver was left upside down and received on-ice medical attention before being carried off on a stretcher. Three teammates were able to exit the sled and move away from the track while medics stabilised the driver. Later commentary confirmed the driver was taken to hospital after complaining of neck and back pain; the precise condition remains not publicly confirmed.

Event impact and next steps

The stoppage lasted more than 15 minutes while medical personnel attended to the driver and the course team repaired damage to the finish area. The delay affected the running order and required officials to suspend competition briefly; one other crew completed a later clean run after the pause.

Standings from nearby heats show tight margins among the leading sleds: times of 54. 49 seconds, 54. 51 seconds, 54. 53 seconds and 54. 55 seconds were recorded for several top crews in the earlier runs. With the Austrian crew removed from the final, those times remain central to the final placings as the event resumed.

Context and what to watch next

The crash followed earlier incidents on the same track during the Games, including a prior training crash involving the same nation’s team. Around an hour after the Austrian incident, another crew lost control and tumbled onto its side; all members quickly emerged and appeared unharmed. The Winter Olympic program runs through the scheduled end of the Games, and the four-man event was operating in its final stages at the time of the crash, with additional runs to follow in the coming session.

Key takeaways:

• The austria bobsleigh crash left the driver stretchered off and taken to hospital after neck and back complaints.
• The sled reached about 117 kilometres-per-hour before overturning and did not cross the finish line, resulting in disqualification.
• Competition was delayed for more than 15 minutes while medics and track crews attended to the scene and repaired the course.

Forward-looking: officials will likely review the incident as the competition continues; if the driver remains hospitalized or if further damage is found on the track, additional scheduling or safety measures could follow. Any updates to the driver’s condition or to event timing will be relayed when they are made public.