Former cross-country queen Therese Johaug received the news of her death with sadness.
– In the majority of cases it goes well, but it is just unbelievably tragic what has happened. Feels for both teammates, coaches, support staff and everyone around her, says Johaug to TV 2.
– It’s a bit like a bicycle: You travel on roads where there is traffic. Accidents also happen if you sit in a car, but what has happened is simply unimaginably tragic. It really stung my heart when I know how many training hours I myself have on busy roads.
– Should there be stricter rules on where you can and where you cannot roller ski?
– Accidents happen no matter where you are in the world. This is just very, very tragic.
SORROW: Therese Johaug says that it stung her heart when she read about the accident. Photo: Pål S. Schaathun / TV 2
Petter Northug: – Painful for everyone
– It affects everyone who is involved in the cross-country skiing environment. It was a very nice roller ski festival now with Blinkfestivalen, but this was very, very sad. A tragic accident, he begins.
– I think it is incredibly sad. It’s an incredibly tough message to receive. It’s very boring for the team and everyone around, absolutely horrible. My deepest condolences are sent to the next of kin. This hurts everyone.
SAD: Petter Northug. Photo: Kristin Grønning / TV 2
Norwegian national team coach affected
The emergency services responded on Thursday morning to reports of an accident on county road 523 in the Botshei tunnel south of Jørpeland.
– It happened inside a short, small tunnel, says police attorney Sveinung Andersen in the Sør-West police district to TV 2.
The woman, who was roller skiing when the accident happened, was transported to Stavanger University Hospital by air ambulance.
– Unfortunately, there was no life to be saved. She was declared dead at the hospital, notes Andersen.
A 19-year-old woman has died after she was involved in an accident with a truck south of Jørpeland in Rogaland. The woman, who was roller skiing when the accident happened, was transported to Stavanger University Hospital by air ambulance. Photo: Kristian Myhre / TV 2
TV 2 has tried to get in touch with the national team coach in Slovenia, Ola Vigen Hattestad, without success.
Ola Vigen Hattestad tells Dagbladet that he will not comment on the case on Thursday.
Øystein “Pølsa” Pettersen has himself been involved in a roller skiing accident. He is deeply affected by the incident.
– It is tragic. Meaningless. Terribly painful for absolutely everyone involved. My thoughts go out to those affected, he begins to TV 2.
Pettersen has been on a team with Hattestad for several years.
– Ola is a good friend of mine. I know him incredibly well and now he is in a situation that requires all of the good human qualities he possesses, says “Pølsa” further.
TEAMMATES: Ola Vigen Hattestad (tv) and Øystein Pettersen together before the Ski WC on home ground in 2011. Photo: Terje Bendiksby
– Tragic
Last week, Jamnik took part in the Blink festival in Sandnes.
Lotta Udnes Weng, current national team athlete, is deeply affected by the incident.
– Completely tragic accident. Makes me sick to think about it… Very sad. Thinks primarily of the next of kin, writes national team athlete Lotta Udnes Weng to VG.
– This is a terribly sad case, quite simply, says TV 2’s cross-country expert Petter Skinstad.
The Slovenian Ski Association commemorates the junior national team skier on its website.
“Hana, you will always be in our thoughts. We will miss you.”
