Bobsled track worker suffers broken legs

Sochi, Russia (SportsNetwork.com) – An icemaker on the Olympic bobsled track suffered two broken legs Thursday when he was struck by a forerunner bobsled, the IOC said.

The icemaker was struck near the breaking zone at the Sanki Sliding Center after a warning signal was given to clear the track.

“It is unclear why he was in this zone or what exactly happened,” IOC President Thomas Bach said. “The information we have so far is that he suffered two compound fractures in the legs, but arrived conscious at the hospital.

“We are continuing to monitor the situation. Our medical director is getting in touch with the medical services; we’ve been in touch with the (Sochi) organizing committee and the International (Bobsleigh and Skeleton) Federation, but so far we do not have any further information.”

Photos online showed the man on a stretcher being loaded into an ambulance.

The accident happened during training. The first bobsled heats of the Sochi Olympics, for two-man, aren’t until Sunday.

Categorized in: Olympics