NZ Paralympian killed in crash in Switzerland

New Zealand Paralaympic shooter Simon Grant has been killed in a head-on motor accident with a bus in Switzerland.

Grant, 42, of Wellington, was with two other New Zealanders in a car involved in a collision with a bus in Sargans, Paralympics New Zealand chief executive Craig Hobbs said today.

The accident occurred at about 8.15am yesterday (6.15pm NZT). The other New Zealanders - athlete Dwayne Woolliams and support official Kris Mason, who was driving the vehicle - are in hospital.

Hobbs said Woolliams suffered a fractured cheekbone and bad bruising while Mason was in shock. He said the two were reported to be in a stable condition.

The trio were on their way to a shooting training venue in preparation for the world championships, beginning in Sargans tomorrow.

Hobbs said the accident occurred when the New Zealanders' car turned left to enter a carpark of the training venue.

Hobbs said organisers had cancelled the official opening ceremony for the championships, which were due to take place tomorrow.

Other New Zealand team members - Ross Mason, Michael Johnson, Bradley Mark, Alison Fursdon and Michelle Oswald - were travelling in another vehicle to an alternative shooting range at the time of the accident.

- NZPA