Tragedy at Killington.

[Ski Diva]

This is too, too sad. Be careful out there, everyone.

http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070130/NEWS/701300361/1002/NEWS01

 

[riverc0il]

sorry to hear about the accident.

not to be statistical about this death, but i would like to point out that this was a high speed collision with a tree on an intermediate run which seems to lead to the most deaths and injuries. there is a false sense of security on these trails and many skiers and riders travel at a higher rate of speed than they can reasonably control in the event their sliding does not go as planned.

 

[KingM]

I notice also that the article said he wasn't wearing a helmet, but then didn't tell us if he died from head injuries, broken neck, etc., just leaving us to draw our own conclusions.

I have to say, I often find myself going quite fast on the blue groomers. There's something about them that leads you to feel pretty confident. More than once I've been flying along and made a turn on an icy patch. At high speeds you just don't see them until they're right under you. I've never lost control going fast, but there have been a couple of close calls and just that split second before you catch an edge is kind of scary and reminds you how close you are at any time to wiping out.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Very sad indeed. My condolances to friends and family.

I was at K-mart yesterday, but after the incident. Several employees mentioned that this was the third Helocopter mission this season. The article shows the DHART (Dartmouth Hitchcock Advanced Response Team) bird, but then mentions that the patient was pronounced in the ambulance en route to Rutland. This indicates that he likely had arrested before the helo arrived. (Most Aeromed services don't transport traumatic arrests.)

My point to all of this is that, hopefully, he didn't suffer long.

Again, my condolances to family and friends.

 

[Skier75]

OMG, that's so sad. Sorry to hear about that. It does go to show you that we all need to be careful out there.

 

[AdironRider]

I hate how they say he wasnt wearing a helmet, when in reality it probably wouldnt have done anything in a high speed collision with a tree.

 

[millerm277]

I hate how they say he wasnt wearing a helmet, when in reality it probably wouldnt have done anything in a high speed collision with a tree.

I am curious as to what the cause of death was. Because, since he was able to talk to them, it doesn't sound that likely that he hit his head the hardest.

 

[rotorite86]

Oh man. Hate when this stuff happens.

What is even worse is they said when they first got there, he was able to answer questions with one word answers. But after all that he didn't make it.

 

[stomachdoc]

Actually, he likely had an intracranial hemorrhage, which can take several minutes--hours to cause brain injury and then death.

This is another story that should wake people up to the importance of wearing helmets. I'm an older guy and never wore a helmet until a few years ago; not only are they safe, but they are warm (and some have built in iPod speakers).

 

[ALLSKIING]

I hate how they say he wasnt wearing a helmet, when in reality it probably wouldnt have done anything in a high speed collision with a tree.

You can't say that. A helmet saved this guys life when he hit a tree.



http://www.friendsofjason.net/

 

[AdironRider]

Here we go, the weekly wear your helmet or your an idiot thread. This is a tragedy dont get me wrong, but helmets are next to useless when your traveling at a high rate of speed. Period.

A nice quote from Jimi sums up my thoughts on helmets..

"Im the one who has to die when its time for me to die,
so let me live my life, the way I want to"

 

[ALLSKIING]

helmets are next to useless when your traveling at a high rate of speed. Period.

I guess you did not read the link..:roll: Nothing is 100% but it can't hurt.

 

[sledhaulingmedic]

Actually, he likely had an intracranial hemorrhage, which can take several minutes--hours to cause brain injury and then death.

Not to turn this into "skiing M&M rounds" but given what little we know, I opting towards massive thorasic/multi-system trauma. Here's my reasoning:

Answering appropriately with one word answers=brain's got O2, functioning. One word answers: dyspnea/shortness of breath from chest injury (flail cx, Tension penumo, etc.)

"Appears" he arrested prior to Helo landing (hense ground transport), Head injury not as likely.

Whatever the cause, ugly either way. (I don't buy the "well at least he died doing something he loved" argument. I think that something we say to make ourselves feel better.)

 

[AdironRider]

I guess you did not read the link..:roll: Nothing is 100% but it can't hurt.

I did read the link and it said he was believed to be traveling at a high rate of speed. I dont get it?

Not to say that this isnt an awful thing to happen, my thoughts go out to this mans family, but its funny how every single ski accident, regardless of the nature or injuries, will include that helmet line.

 

[riverc0il]

I did read the link and it said he was believed to be traveling at a high rate of speed. I dont get it?

Not to say that this isnt an awful thing to happen, my thoughts go out to this mans family, but its funny how every single ski accident, regardless of the nature or injuries, will include that helmet line.

as well it should, even if helmets don't protect against all injuries (especially high speed collisions such as this), they sure help with prevent many injuries and quite a few deaths.

 

[hammer]

sorry to hear about the accident.

not to be statistical about this death, but i would like to point out that this was a high speed collision with a tree on an intermediate run which seems to lead to the most deaths and injuries. there is a false sense of security on these trails and many skiers and riders travel at a higher rate of speed than they can reasonably control in the event their sliding does not go as planned.

I think the whole discussion about helmets is obscuring riverc0il's point here...while a helmet may have helped here, it appears that speed and loss of control were the main reason for this tragedy.

I think that too many people open it up on intermediate terrain without making sure that they stay in control at all times (I believe that I'm more cautious than most but I've also gone at speeds outside my comfort zone).

While it can be fun to rip down a trail, keep in mind that if you can't stay in control then you run the risk...

 

[MonkeyBrook]

Wow, that is terrible. Ironically, I grew up in Fairfield NJ. I did not know this guy as I am much older.

 

[dmc]

I hate how they say he wasnt wearing a helmet, when in reality it probably wouldnt have done anything in a high speed collision with a tree.

Wearing a helmet and crashing head first at high speed just leaves a nicer looking corpse.

 

[SkiDork]

The left turn onto the snowshed crossover (AKA Great Eastern) from Skyeburst on a Sunday is not something I'd want to be doing at any high rate of speed.

 

[Sheik Yerbouti]

I guess I'd rather wear a helmet for a small piece of mind. I used to do alot of mountain biking and everyone wore helmets, except me. I went for a ride along Lake Michigan, fell hard and a bike whizzed past my unprotected head about 2 - 3 inches away. If it were to have hit me, I would have been dead or worse.
Wear it if you want, but remember that you may not die, you could become an invalid, pushing all of your needs onto a loved one. That's something I couldn't live with, my vanity causing my wife to feed me, clean me and wipe my...
No thanks.