Skiing collision brings criminal charge

[dbking]

Not sure I agree. At Wachusett one day they were doing race training on Smith Walton. After it was open we were down near the intersecting trails, a racer blew by us and went flying over a roller where he couldn't see the landing. A snowboarder was making a left turn on the down hill side of the roller. We watched the racer's skis narrowly miss the boarders head. I'm not a lawyer but I think the racer's behavior was criminally negligent. Had he hit the boarder I'd have had no problem with him being prosecuted. And I would've testified against him. He's a strong skier and skiing in control, but clearly endangering the well being of others. That said, most on slope collisions don't involve that kind of abject reckless endangerment and I would hope we don't see prosecution and legal actions involving on-slope collisions become routine.

No where in the skier's responsibility code does it say that you can't come close.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

I 100% support criminal charges for reckless skiing & snowboarding that hurts or kills someone.

times two!!

 

[campgottagopee]

Not sure I agree. At Wachusett one day they were doing race training on Smith Walton. After it was open we were down near the intersecting trails, a racer blew by us and went flying over a roller where he couldn't see the landing. A snowboarder was making a left turn on the down hill side of the roller. We watched the racer's skis narrowly miss the boarders head. I'm not a lawyer but I think the racer's behavior was criminally negligent. Had he hit the boarder I'd have had no problem with him being prosecuted. And I would've testified against him. He's a strong skier and skiing in control, but clearly endangering the well being of others. That said, most on slope collisions don't involve that kind of abject reckless endangerment and I would hope we don't see prosecution and legal actions involving on-slope collisions become routine.

That's cool you don't have to agree, and that's your opinion. I for one will stop skiing is these friggin stupid ass lawsuits start popping up on the slopes. Yeah, accidents happen an they happen all over the place for many different reasons. I for one understand what "ski at your own risk" means and except the responcibilty that comes with it. Don't mean to tee off here, but hot coffee means hot coffee....get it??

 

[ski_resort_observer]

Anyone that skis really fast on a groomer/cruiser is an accident waiting to happen...literally. Even in a downhill race they make turns. Most of the serious injuries/deaths on the slopes are a result of this wantan disregard for others on the trail in the name of the "need for speed".

 

[Highway Star]

Anyone that skis really fast on a groomer/cruiser is an accident waiting to happen...literally. Even in a downhill race they make turns. Most of the serious injuries/deaths on the slopes are a result of this wantan disregard for others on the trail in the name of the "need for speed".

I just put bindings back on my deflex'd 218cm Volkl DH boards and will probably ski them at Killington this weekend. I promise to not ski really fast on a groomer.

 

[Highway Star]

I've been at Jiminy for three seasons now and haven't had one truly close call yet. Jiminy has a definite presence of Ski Patrol and Ambassadors on the hill and the
VP of the mountain personally pulls lots of tickets.

Yep, Jiminy has a very over zelous head of SP and VP. If anybody is curious what it's like to ski a mountain that has very strict ski patrol, go to Jiminy. They take the fun out of it:

http://forums.alpinezone.com/17136-jiminy-peak-2007-alpinezone-challenge.html#post174331

 

[legalskier]

Here's one about a German politician who killed a mother of four while skiing the wrong way at a high rate of speed. He was charged with manslaughter but still plans on seeking re-election.

German charged over ski death
March 2, 2009

A German state premier has been charged with manslaughter over a collision on an Austrian ski slope in January in which a woman died.

Dieter Althaus, minister-president of Thuringia state, is accused by Austrian prosecutors of failing to observe regulations while skiing at high speed.

He is still recovering from the head injuries he sustained in the collision.

Prosecutors said Mr Althaus had told them he had no memory of the accident but took responsibility for the death.

In the accident on 1 January, Beata Christandl, a 41-year-old Slovakian mother-of-four, collided with Mr Althaus at a junction of two pistes in the Riesneralm ski resort. She died on the way to hospital after suffering from multiple head injuries.

Memorial to Beata Christandl at scene of collision on 2 January 2009
Beata Christandl's death has sparked debate about safety on the piste

Prosecutors said Mr Althaus had strayed onto the blue, or easy, slope on which Ms Christandl was travelling and skied some distance along it in the wrong direction.

Walter Ploebst, a spokesman for prosecutors in the town of Leoben, said they had filed the charges of manslaughter by culpable negligence at a court in Irdning on Monday.

If found guilty, Mr Althaus could be sentenced to up to two years in jail.

Members of German Chancellor Angela Merkel's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in Thuringia had earlier said they expected him to seek re-election as governor in August in spite of the charges.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7919790.stm

 

[Dr Skimeister]

I wonder if charges/cases like this start to become more common, if it will be extended to include people that are involved in on-slope collisions and can be proven to be "under the influence"?

 

[Phildozer]

Not only do I wear a helmet every time I ski, I also wear a condom.

You can never be too safe.

 

[GrilledSteezeSandwich]

Not only do I wear a helmet every time I ski, I also wear a condom.

You can never be too safe.

bahahahahahaha:beer: