Seven Springs Ski Accident: Skier Dies In Freak Accident After Being Hit By Another Skier
A freak ski accident has left a 51-year-old man dead. Jeffrey Behr was pronounced dead at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort in Pennsylvania after another skier accidentally hit him while skiing on the Wagner trail. The Seven Springs Mountain Resort Ski Patrol responded to a ski accident just after 9:00 pm. When the pair of skiers collided, Behr injured his face and neck. Though emergency medical was called to the scene just after 9:00 pm, at 9:46 pm a coroner was called to the scene.
The Daily Mail reports that a Pennsylvania man was pronounced dead after a ski accident at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Behr, 51, was skiing when another skier accidentally struck him. The pair both fell to the ground, but Behr sustained life-threatening injuries to his face and neck. The ski patrol was immediately called to the scene and 911 was called denoting that a medical emergency was taking place on the mountain and requesting trauma assistance. The Seven Springs ski patrol medical office responded and provided medical care to Behr until a coroner was called at 9:46 pm to declare the skier dead.
Seven Springs spokeswoman Katie Buchan says that the community is mourning the loss of Behr and that “the entire mountain family” has been affected by the tragic death.
“Our entire mountain family is deeply saddened by the tragic accident. While we continue to work to uncover the details of how this occurred, our thoughts and prayers go out to this gentleman’s family, friends and loved ones during this unspeakably difficult time.”
CBS Pittsburgh reports that staff at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort were in a somber mood following the death of Behr. The staff note that an investigation is underway to determine exactly what caused the accident on the slopes. Though few details are known, it was reported that another skier accidentally hit the 51-year-old Behr while both were skiing the Wagner Trail. During the collision, both skiers fell to the ground, but Behr received injuries to his neck and face that would prove fatal. The condition of the other skier was not released.
Friends on Facebook have spoken out to call Jeff an amazing man who is leaving behind three children and his wife.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/7760591722/permalink/10153373658026723/
Meanwhile, the ski resort wants to better understand exactly how the freak accident occurred to help prevent future accidents of this nature. Though the entire ordeal has been disclosed as a “tragic accident,” investigators are still looking into the results of toxicology results to ensure alcohol or drugs were not to blame for the death.
https://www.facebook.com/jill.brewer.7/posts/10207264150594564
Sadly, this does not appear to be the first death at the Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Back in 2012, CBS reported that a skier lost control on the beginner’s trail and crossed over another trail before smashing into some rocks, which resulted in a fatal head injury. Also, earlier this month, a seven-year-old girl broke her leg and required surgery after falling from the ski lift at the Polar Bear Express.
Though ski accidents are rare, the National Ski Areas Association reveals that, on average, 41.5 people die per year in ski-related accidents, which comes to 5.5 deaths per million participants. To compare the risk associated with skiing, the NSAA points out that an average of 800 people die per year riding a bike, and 2,400 die while swimming in a public swimming area. In fact, it was noted that you are much more likely to die from an unintentional fall in a public space than from a skiing accident, with the unintentionally fall death rate at approximately 8,600 per year. For those concerned about freak accidents such as the Behr collision which resulted in a fatality, NSAA reports that the number of collision accidents with other skiers or snowboarders accounts for only 6.4 percent of all reported accidents and so is not considered a high risk to skiers.
[Image via Shutterstock]
