Rising Austrian star Sieber dies in car crash

Austrian Bjoern Sieber, number three in the giant slalom rankings on the 2011 Europa Cup, perished Friday (Oct. 26) in a car crash. His brother, Marc, was reported to also be a victim of the crash when their VW bus flew off a road and dropped 74 feet down a steep slope.

Marc is reported in critical condition with Bjoern determined to have died at the scene.

Authorities said both men were thrown from the vehicle and it was undetermined which had been the driver.

“We are all shocked and everything else fades into the background,” said Austrian haed coach Mathias Berthold. “Bjoern was a fantastic man, whom we will miss. He was very popular in the team. Bjoern was calm, friendly and purposeful.”

Sieber had scored in nine World Cup events, highlighted by a seventh in combined at Wengen last season. He was 23.
Gepa photo