Alpe d'Huez cable car hits crane, injuring 23

A cable car hit a crane at the French Alps resort of Alpe d'Huez on Wednesday morning, injuring 23 people, three of them critically, officials said.

Alpe d'Huez mayor Jean-Yves Noyrey said about 50 people were in the cable car cabin at an altitude of 2,300 metres when the accident happened.

The regional prefecture said 13 people had severe injuries. Noyrey said many of the injured were in shock or had concussions, and that he believed most had left hospital.

The mayor said cable cars are designed to stabilise themselves if they brake suddenly, but that the cabin tilted after hitting the crane and people inside slid. He said the operator reversed the cable car to level the cabin.