Five people were hospitalized on Monday following a chairlift malfunction at the Heavenly Mountain Resort, located on the border of California and Nevada at Lake Tahoe. The incident occurred on the Comet Express chairlift and has raised concerns over safety standards at ski resorts.
The Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District responded to the scene at about 10 a.m. local time, dispatching two fire engines and three ambulances to the area. Upon arrival, five individuals were found injured, three of whom sustained injuries from falling approximately 30 feet onto the snow.
Witnesses reported hearing loud noises and seeing the chairlift slide backward, which caused the fall. Notably, two of the injured parties were described as 60 and 71 years old. According to radio communications from emergency services captured via Broadcastify, one of the older men had lost consciousness and was wearing a helmet at the time of the fall. Their conditions raised serious concerns, with one individual exhibiting difficulty breathing, potentially indicating more severe injuries.
Heidi Schmitt, who was on the chairlift just before the incident, described seeing medics responding to the situation. "We could see about 15 EMTs surrounding someone, and my husband noticed the backpack hanging from the chairlift. I can't even think of what might have happened—it makes me not want to ski anymore," Schmitt recounted.
While the exact cause of the malfunction remains unclear, the incident coincides with severe weather conditions affecting the West Coast. Powerful winds had been reported across the Sierra Nevada mountains, with gusts reaching up to 78 mph at the higher elevations of the Heavenly resort, just one day prior to the accident.
A representative of Heavenly Mountain Resort confirmed the occurrence of the incident, stating, "The safety of our guests is our top priority, and we are investigating the incident thoroughly." The spokesperson refrained from giving additional details about what could have led to the malfunction.
Following the incident, all operations of the Comet Express chairlift were suspended, as safety investigations and repairs commenced. According to reports, several chairs were seen stacked together at the base of the lift, with additional guests on the ground being assisted by ski patrol.
This unfortunate accident came on the heels of another incident at Winter Park Resort, Colorado, where 174 guests were stranded for hours due to technical issues with gondolas. Such back-to-back incidents have stirred discourse about operational safety at ski resorts across the country.
At the time of publication, the resort has yet to comment on the findings of the investigation. The local community and ski enthusiasts remain anxious about the safety measures being taken following this incident.
Further updates are awaited as the resort conducts its thorough investigation. The safety of visitors is of utmost importance, and all necessary precautions will be undertaken to prevent similar incidents from occurring again.
