Latest news with #TripleChair
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
"Strong" Winds Are Suspected Cause of Fatal Ski Lift Fall in Montana
Red Lodge Mountain, Montana, said on Saturday, March 15, 2025 that an initial inspection suggested that a gust of high wind was the cause of the 'unusually aggressive' derailment of the Triple Chair that led to the injuries and eventual death of Billings resident Jeff Zinne, 37. The ski area said it's investigating the incident alongside the U.S. Forest Service, the Carbon County Sheriff's Office, and Iron Mountain Engineering, an independent professional lift Triple Chair will remain closed until it is repaired, tested, and evaluated again by inspectors and regulatory agencies, Red Lodge added. There is no estimated timeline for its reopening, but the ski area said that it anticipates having more information to share in the coming days. Zinne was riding the Triple Chair alone when he fell from an unspecified height on Monday, March 10. Ski patrol was notified of the accident at 11:51 a.m. and arrived on the scene minutes later at 11:53 a.m., according to a statement shared by Red Lodge last week. Zinne was transported to a Billings hospital, where he was eventually pronounced dead. 'On behalf of the Red Lodge Mountain team, we would like to send our most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Zinne, and to everyone impacted by the tragedy that occurred on Monday,' said in the statement shared to social media. On the day of the accident, some of Red Lodge's lifts were stopped in the morning because of high winds, and gusts around 50 miles per hour were recorded in the area. Following Zinne's fall, more than a hundred guests were evacuated from the Triple Chair by ski patrol using ropes. The mountain was closed for the rest of the the accident closure, Red Lodge has fully suspended its lift operations twice due to winds, including today, Tuesday, March was a father and husband, according to a GoFundMe created to support his family. The fundraiser has raised over $40,000 so far from more than 500 donors.'Jeff was a devoted husband to his loving wife, Meghan, and a caring father to his 2-year-old son. His passion for life, infectious laughter, and kind-hearted nature touched everyone around him,' the GoFundMe page reads.
USA Today
14-03-2025
- USA Today
Snowboarder dies after falling from ski chairlift at Red Lodge Mountain in Montana
Snowboarder dies after falling from ski chairlift at Red Lodge Mountain in Montana A snowboarder at a southern Montana ski resort was killed Monday after falling from a chair lift, according to a social media post from the ski resort where it happened. 'Yesterday was an unfortunate day at Red Lodge Mountain as a guest was injured as the result of a chair lift incident,' the resort shared on Facebook Tuesday morning, adding that the guest was on the Triple Chair. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest and his friends and family, and all guests and employees impacted by this incident.' Loved ones and Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan identified the man as 37-year-old Jeffrey Zinne. He died after a fall from the Triple Chair at Red Lodge Mountain, Sheriff McQuillan said Friday, adding that the accident remains under investigation. According to KTVQ, the coroner's office said his cause of death was accidental blunt force injury. He was life-flighted to a hospital in Billings, where he died on Wednesday, according to Esther Jensen, a GoFundMe organizer raising funds for his family. Chairlift was shut down following man's death He was pronounced dead early Wednesday morning, KTVQ reported. The resort shut down the Triple Chair after the accident, according to the company's statement. '(The Triple Chair) will reopen only when we can ensure the continued safe operation of the lift,' Red Lodge Mountain said in its statement this week. The resort said in its statement that safety is a 'top priority' and the company has daily, weekly, monthly, and annual safety measures in place to make sure its guests are safe. Neither the coroner nor Red Lodge Mountain immediately responded to USA TODAY's requests for comment Friday morning. Tragic accident: 5 dead, including 2 children, after 17-vehicle crash in Austin; several others injured Meteorologist says there were strong winds in the area the day man died USA TODAY spoke with Peter Matos, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Billings Friday morning. While the National Weather Service doesn't have a weather observation site at Red Lodge Mountain, there are some close by, Matos said. One site is the Timbercrest site, Matos said. Around 11:15 a.m. on Monday, the Timbercrest site recorded wind gusts up to 50 miles-per-hour, coming in from the west. At 12:15 p.m. that day, the site recorded wind gusts around 52 miles-per-hour. Citing local reports, Matos said Zinne fell around noon. 'Those winds, they can make it over onto the other side of the mountain,' Matos said to USA TODAY on Friday. 'Red Lodge is known for having strong downslope winds out of the southwest. We know that it was pretty windy across the entire area that day.' A sweep of Red Lodge Mountain's Facebook page shows that facility managers have previously shut down lifts due to strong winds and maintenance. For example, a January 2021 post reads in part: 'Due to winds of 49+MPH at the top of Triple Chair, all lifts are currently on hold.' 'Love you, Dada guy': Remembering Jeffrey Zinne In the GoFundMe description, organizers said Zinne's death was a 'tragic accident.' 'This unexpected loss has left his family, friends, and all who knew him heartbroken and in disbelief,' Jensen, the organizer, wrote. 'Jeff was a devoted husband to his loving wife, Meghan, and a caring father to his 2-year-old son. His passion for life, infectious laughter, and kind-hearted nature touched everyone around him.' According to Jensen, he put others before himself and was president of Montana Air Cartage. The company offers local shipping services and has been in business since the late 1980s, according to their website. Jensen shared in the fundraiser description that Zinne's widow and the couple's son are grieving while also facing mounting financial burdens. 'Your contribution will make a significant difference in providing financial stability for Jeff's family,' Jensen wrote. 'All funds raised will go directly to his wife and son to help with funeral costs and medical expenses.' The fundraiser ended with a note from the couple's toddler son: "Love you, Dada Guy". Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at sdmartin@
CBS News
13-03-2025
- General
- CBS News
Man dies after falling from ski chairlift at Montana resort
A 37-year-old man died after falling from a chairlift that was having a mechanical problem at a Montana ski area, according to local authorities and a spokesperson for Red Lodge Mountain. The man was riding alone in a three-person chair that carries skiers up the mountain when he fell from an unspecified height, they said. The accident happened Monday just before noon at the ski area southeast of Billings in the Beartooth Mountains. Jeffrey Zinne of Billings was taken to a Billings hospital where he was pronounced dead early Wednesday from injuries suffered in the fall, according to Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan and Rich Hoffman with the Yellowstone County Coroner's Office. The lift, known as the Triple Chair, was stopped after the accident, Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson Troy Hawks said. More than 100 people who were on it at the time were evacuated by ski patrollers who used ropes to lower them to the ground. Hawks said the lift had a mechanical problem at the time Zinne fell, but declined to comment further and said the circumstances were being investigated. Weather conditions and the victim's actions also were being looked at, he said. On the morning of the accident, some other chairlifts at Red Lodge Mountain were not operating because of high winds. Wind gusts of about 50 miles per hour were recorded in the area shortly before and after the accident, according to the National Weather Service. Hawks said the Triple Chairlift, which is almost a mile long and was built in 1983, was operating within safety parameters. It will remain shut down until an engineer fully assesses it, he said. Staff at the ski area inspect its chairlifts daily, Hawks said. A professional inspection is conducted annually as required by Red Lodge Mountain's insurance carrier and the U.S. Forest Service, which leases land to the ski area, he said. "We place a top priority on the safety of all of our lifts and lift operations, and perform daily, weekly, monthly, and annual safety measures to better ensure the safe operation of our lifts," the resort said in a statement on social media. A GoFundMe page for Zinne described him as a "devoted husband" to his wife and a "caring father" to his two-year-old son. "This unexpected loss has left his family, friends, and all who knew him heartbroken and in disbelief," the GoFundMe said. Fatal lift accidents at ski areas are relatively rare, according to the National Ski Areas Association. Between 1956 and 2024, 35 people died in accidents involving chairlifts and aerial ropeways. Sixteen of the deaths were linked to mechanical malfunctions, according to data collected by the group. The latest death during that time period was in 2020, when a man died at Colorado's Vail resort after his clothing got entangled in part of the chairlift, making him unable to breathe.
The Independent
13-03-2025
- The Independent
Man dies after falling from faulty chairlift at ski resort
A man has died a day after falling from a chairlift that was having a mechanical problem in a Montana ski area. The accident happened just before noon on Monday at Red Lodge Mountain, southeast of Billings in the Beartooth Mountains. Jeffrey Zinne, 37, had been riding alone in a three-person chair, known as the Triple Chair, that carries skiers up the mountain when he fell from an unspecified height, according to Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson Troy Hawks. Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan said he was taken to a Billings hospital where he died the following night. Hawks said the lift had a mechanical problem at the time Zinne fell, but declined to comment further. He said the circumstances were being investigated including weather conditions and the victim's actions. The lift was stopped after the accident and more than 100 people who were on it at the time were evacuated by ski patrollers who used ropes to lower them to the ground. On the morning of the accident, some other chairlifts at Red Lodge Mountain were not operating because of high winds. Wind gusts of about 50 mph (80.4 kph) were recorded in the area shortly before and after the accident, according to the National Weather Service. Hawks said the Triple Chairlift, which is almost a mile (1.6 kilometers) long and was built in 1983, was operating within safety parameters. It will remain shut down until an engineer fully assesses it, Hawks said. Fatal lift accidents at ski areas are relatively rare, according to the National Ski Areas Association. Between 1956 and 2024, 35 people died in accidents involving chairlifts and aerial ropeways. Sixteen of the deaths were linked to mechanical malfunctions, according to data collected by the group. The latest death during that time period was in 2020, when a man died at Colorado 's Vail resort after his clothing got entangled in part of the chairlift, making him unable to breathe.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Man dies from injuries after falling from chairlift at Montana ski resort
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A 37-year-old man died after falling from a chairlift that was having a mechanical problem at a Montana ski area, according to local authorities and a spokesperson for Red Lodge Mountain. The man was riding alone in a three-person chair that carries skiers up the mountain when he fell from an unspecified height, according to Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson Troy Hawks. The accident happened Monday just before noon at the ski area southeast of Billings in the Beartooth Mountains. Jeffrey Zinne of Billings was taken to a Billings hospital where he was pronounced dead early Wednesday from injuries suffered in the fall, according to Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan and Rich Hoffman with the Yellowstone County Coroner's Office. See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. The lift, known as the Triple Chair, was stopped after the accident. More than 100 people who were on it at the time were evacuated by ski patrollers who used ropes to lower them to the ground. Hawks said the lift had a mechanical problem at the time Zinne fell, but declined to comment further and said the circumstances were being investigated. Weather conditions and the victim's actions also were being looked at, he said. On the morning of the accident, some other chairlifts at Red Lodge Mountain were not operating because of high winds. Wind gusts of about 50 mph (80.4 kph) were recorded in the area shortly before and after the accident, according to the National Weather Service. Hawks said the Triple Chairlift, which is almost a mile (1.6 kilometers) long and was built in 1983, was operating within safety parameters. It will remain shut down until an engineer fully assesses it, he said. Staff at the ski area inspect its chairlifts daily, Hawks said. A professional inspection is conducted annually as required by Red Lodge Mountain's insurance carrier and the U.S. Forest Service, which leases land to the ski area, he said. Fatal lift accidents at ski areas are relatively rare, according to the National Ski Areas Association. Between 1956 and 2024, 35 people died in accidents involving chairlifts and aerial ropeways. Sixteen of the deaths were linked to mechanical malfunctions, according to data collected by the group. The latest death during that time period was in 2020, when a man died at Colorado's Vail resort after his clothing got entangled in part of the chairlift, making him unable to breathe.
