3 Die, 1 Critically Injured In Separate Skiing Incidents

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Snow Nymph
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3 Die, 1 Critically Injured In Separate Skiing Incidents

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Three Die, One Critically Injured In Separate Skiing Incidents
by George Shirk


Three people, including a 16-year-old skier, lost their lives in separate incidents on Mammoth Mountain last weekend, while another remains hospitalized in critical condition after colliding with a tree.

The first victim, Benjamin David Trees, 16, of San Diego, was fatally injured in the South Park terrain park, near Roller Coaster Express, according to Joani Lynch, Mammoth Mountain Communiciations Director.

In a written statement, Lynch said that "witnesses indicate the skier was carrying excessive speed" approaching a jump, which caused him to miss the landing area.

A Mono County Sheriff spokesperson said relatives and friends considered Trees a "competent to advanced skier" who had been doing jumps throughout the day.

He was immediately transported to an ambulance where paramedics were waiting. He was rushed to Mammoth Hospital but efforts to revive him failed.

On Saturday, 61-year-old Luther Sartor, a dentist from Los Angeles, died in a skiing accident shortly before 11 a.m., according to Lynch and the Mono County Sheriff’s office.

Investigators said they believe Sartor was traveling at a high rate of speed on West Bowl when he lost control and ran into a group of rocks between West Bowl and Saddle Bowl. Ski Patrol immediately transported Sartor to Main Lodge, where paramedics rushed him to the Mammoth Hospital Emergency Room.

The third death occurred on Sunday, when James Albert Ferguson, 63, of Garden Grove, suffered a heart attack in the White Bark Ridge area. Paramedics were unable to revive him. Lynch said that Ferguson "had a pre-existing health condition that lead to cardiac arrest.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Jan. 27, at approximately 4:10 p.m. a 38-year-old skier collided with a tree on Quicksilver, near the intersection to the trail Gold Hill, Lynch said.

Preliminary reports from witnesses indicate the skier lost control and slid into a group of trees. Ski Patrol was notified and arrived on scene within minutes. They immediately transported him to Eagle Lodge where paramedics were waiting and he was rushed to the Mammoth Hospital Emergency Room. The patient was later flown to Washoe Medical Center in Reno where he remains in critical condition.

The ski area did not identify the skier.
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison


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Post by BSquared »

I don't suppose we know if any of these people were wearing helmets?
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Post by Snow Nymph »

The dentist did not have a helmet on, according to a friend of someone that was with him.

We got our helmets (~'99-'00) after hearing about two head injuries two weekends in a row. I replaced my first helmet after a crash/concussion. :retard:
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison


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Post by Snow Nymph »

Sounds like he was a good kid. What a loss! RIP

TREES, BENJAMIN DAVID July 31, 1989 to January 26, 2006 Benjamin David Trees passed away last Thursday in a skiing accident while on vacation at Mammoth Mountain with family and friends. He is survived by his father Carl "Andy" Trees Jr.; mother Le Ann Trees; brother Andrew Trees; sisters, Rebecca and Katherine Trees; grandparents Carl Trees M.D. and Beverly Trees; great-grandmother Mary Clendenin; cousins, uncles, aunts, and friends. Ben was born in Santa Rosa, California, and was raised by his mother and father with his three siblings. He moved with his family to San Diego in 1992 to his current residence in the community of Carmel Valley. He was homeschooled until fourth grade and then attended Solana Highlands Elementary School, Carmel Valley Middle School, Torrey Pines High School, and Canyon Crest Academy. Ben was an active part of his community and was loved by everyone he met. He had a wonderful twinkle in his eyes. He was a devout Christian and the "captain" of his school's Fellowship of Christian Athletes "huddle," which he founded. Ben was an excellent student. He had a passion for athletics and was a star player on Canyon Crest Academy's basketball team. He was heavily involved with video editing and had his own video business, Trees Productions. He pursued acting and modeling with San Diego Talent Management. He was also a basketball referee with the Carmel Valley Recreation Center. Ben will be remembered for his amazing smile; his contagious, genuine, and loving personality; his ability to light up any room; and the heartwarming testimonies of the countless lives he has touched in his short time on earth. A memorial service is planned for 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 4, at Horizon North County Christian Fellowship. The family welcomes letters and personal stories at http://www.bentrees.com. Information regarding a memorial fund will also be available at this website. Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison


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Another Death at Mammoth Mountain

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Another Death At Ski Area
by George Shirk


A 57-year-old Los Angeles woman died at Mammoth Mountain Ski Area on Wednesday, Feb. 8, bringing the number of deaths there to five this season, all in the last two weeks.

Susan Barbara Klausner was pronounced dead at Mammoth Hospital following a long fall through trees, according to a spokesman from the Mono County Sheriff’s Department.

The incident occurred on Viva, which is a double-black diamond run in the Lincoln Mountain section of the ski area, according to Joani Lynch, communications director for Mammoth Mountain Ski Area.

In a written statement, Lynch said that preliminary reports from witnesses "indicate that the skier had skied down Avy 1 prior to skiing Viva.

"Ski Patrol was notified and arrived on scene within minutes. They immediately transported her to Canyon Lodge, where paramedics were waiting, and she was rushed to Mammoth Hospital Emergency Room. Emergency Room personnel worked on the patient, but despite their best efforts, the skier passed away as a result of her injuries."

Klausner, whom the sheriff’s office described as “apparently an advanced skier,” was wearing her helmet when she fell about 500 yards through the tree area.

Counting the backcountry death of Sara Johanna Carlsson, a Mammoth Mountain Ski Patroller who was killed in an avalanche near Bridgeport, six skiers died within a two-week period.

According to ski area officials, in a normal season, three people die in accidents or from natural causes at the resort. Last season, only two people died.

The tragic fortnight began with the death of Benjamin David Trees, 16, of San Diego, who was fatally injured in the South Park terrain park, near Roller Coaster Express on Thursday, Jan. 26. Trees overshot the landing area on a jump in the terrain park, and emergency medical personnel were unable to revive him.

The next day, Bronislaw Tanski, 38, a Laguna Miguel athlete who also was a running enthusiast, hit a tree on Quicksilver, a run near the intersection with the trail Goldhill, according to Mono County authorities.

Preliminary reports from witnesses indicate the skier lost control and slid into a group of trees. Ski Patrol was notified and arrived on scene within minutes. They immediately transported him to Eagle Lodge where paramedics were waiting and he was rushed to the Mammoth Hospital Emergency Room, and then to Reno. He died four days later as a result of his injuries.

On Saturday, Jan. 28, 61-year-old Luther Sartor, a dentist from Los Angeles, died in a skiing accident shortly before 11 a.m., according to the Mono County Sheriff’s office.

Investigators said they believe Sartor was traveling at a high rate of speed on West Bowl when he lost control and ran into a group of rocks between West Bowl and Saddle Bowl.

On Sunday, Jan. 29, James Albert Ferguson, 63, of Garden Grove, suffered a heart attack in the White Bark Ridge section of the ski area. Paramedics were unable to revive him. Officials said that Ferguson "had a pre-existing health condition that led to cardiac arrest."
Expose yourself to your deepest fear; after that, fear has no power, and the fear of freedom shrinks and vanishes. You are free . . . . Jim Morrison


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