Two Recovering After Chairlift Fall at Spirit Mountain

Officials: Chairlift Injuries are Extremely Rare

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Two people fell off chairlifts this weekend at Spirit Mountain.

They happened just hours apart on Friday.

An 8-year-old fell 25 feet off the Spirit Express II lift, and was seriously injured.

He was wearing a helmet.

The second happened a few hours later on the same lift.

That person was not injured.

Spirit Mountain executive director, Brandy Ream, says chairlift falls are extremely rare, and she hasn’t seen it happen in years.

“It’s very much the behavior of the responsible party as well,” Ream said. “The ski lift is a very safe and secure mode of transportation.”

Ski officials say the lift was working properly during the falls.

Ski officials say they teach skiers and snowboarders how to safely travel on the lifts.

“You sit down, you scoot your back to the back, and you stay there, and it’s always no horseplay,” Ream explained. “No horseplay, no way. No phones, no games, no cell phones that sort of thing.”