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Wyo. collision: 2 dead

legalskier

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3 Hogadon Ski Area collision victims weren't wearing helmets, ski area manager says
CASPER, Wyo. - The manager for Hogadon (HO'-guh-dun) Ski Area says none of the three people involved in a Christmas Eve skiing collision that killed two of them was wearing a helmet. Officials say a 22-year-old man was snowboarding at a high speed Friday afternoon when he collided with a 5-year-old girl and her mother who were stopped in the middle of the black diamond Dreadnaught run, which is rated difficult. The man and girl died.

Full story: http://www.startribune.com/nation/112475504.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiacyKUzyaP37D_ncyD_2yckUr

How terribly sad.
 

kartski

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I'm not against helmets, I think the industry over sells them. They can prevent minor injuries but many are not subject to outside testing by the likes of the SNELL Foundation. Their lack of use probably wasn't a player in this tragic incident. Prayers for the Mom to recover and make it through the loss of her Daughter. The large, fast uncontrolled missile will not be able to do it again.
 

kartski

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In an update, the girl did have a helmet.




Associated Press

Last update: December 27, 2010 - 12:03 PM


CASPER, Wyo. - A Wyoming coroner says a 5-year-old skier who died in a collision with a snowboarder was wearing a helmet, contrary to officials' earlier reports.

Natrona County Coroner Connie Jacobson says the girl, Elise Johnson, and 22-year-old Craig Shirley
died of internal injuries from blunt force trauma.

Witnesses have said Shirley was snowboarding at high speed Friday at Hogadon (HO'-guh-dun) Ski Area when he collided with Elise and her mother. The mother and daughter had stopped in the middle of the run, which is rated as difficult.



http://www.startribune.com/nation/112503219.html?elr=KArks:DCiUMEaPc:UiacyKUnciaec8O7EyUr
 

zinger3000

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The article states that the mother and daughter were stopped in the middle of the run - I'm assuming that means somewhere between the top (start) of the run and the bottom (end) of the run, as opposed to the middle of the trail - between the left side and right side of the trail.

In any event, since they were stopped, shouldn't the snowboarder have been able to avoid them just like any other stationary object, such as a tree in the middle of the trail, or a lift tower?
 

keyser soze

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Absolutely. Regardless if in the middle of the trail, on the side or top or bottom, a skier/baorder is responsible for being under control, no?
 

kickstand

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Absolutely. Regardless if in the middle of the trail, on the side or top or bottom, a skier/baorder is responsible for being under control, no?

True, it is up to the moving person to be in control, but my question is were the mother and daughter in a spot that was visible to the moving person? One of my worst fears is to come over a ridge and have someone standing right there. I see way too many people standing around in relatively blind spots. Don't get me wrong, this is an awful tragedy, but I think there are too many questions not answered by the report for me to start forming opinions.
 
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