World Cup coach Severino Bottero killed in car accident in France{mosimage}GRENOBLE - French men's giant slalom coach Severino Bottero was killed Monday in an auto accident in the Alps.

The 47-year-old Bottero died after his car went off a road and into a ditch between the towns of Sallanches and Cluses, regional highway operator AMTB said. AMTB said he was alone in the car.

Italian-born Bottero was on the way to join the French team in the Swiss town of Bernex after a family holiday in the Piedmont region of Italy, police and highway officials said.

"This is a drama and a disaster for French ski," French ski federation technical director Gerard Rougier told Reuters.

Bottero's death occurs just over a month before the start of the Winter Olympics in the Italian city of Torino.

Rougier added: "He was a great professional and a great person. He was almost French after all those years with us."

Bottero coached Frederic Covili, the 2002 giant slalom World Cup champion.

- The Associated Press/Reuters