CAMDEN (AP) – A new report says an inadequate safety gate, a distracted crew and an inexperienced volunteer were possible contributing factors to a two-toboggan crash at the Camden Snow Bowl’s annual toboggan races.

The report provides a detailed narrative of the Feb. 9 accident that sent six people to the hospital during the ski area’s annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships, a tongue-in-cheek competition in which some participants race in outlandish costumes.

During the competition, a toboggan carrying four people overturned and came to a rest at the bottom of the 400-foot toboggan chute. Another toboggan with four people was then inadvertently released down the chute and crashed into the overturned sled.

The report’s recommendations include adding a new safety gate at the top of the toboggan run and training more chute-loading crew members so untrained volunteers aren’t needed.

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Information from: Bangor Daily News, http://www.bangornews.com

AP-ES-02-23-08 0852EST