An 18-year-old woman died from injuries sustained in a tubing accident Saturday night at Deer Valley Resort.
The Oregon woman, whose name was not released, was tubing with friends after the resort had closed, according to Emily Summers, the resort’s senior communications manager. Around 9 p.m., she collided with a chairlift tower at Silver Strike Express.
The woman’s friends called 911 and transported her to the base of the chairlift, where the Park City Fire District responded. She was then transported to an offsite location and later transported to the University of Utah trauma center by a medical helicopter. The woman did not survive her injuries.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with the guest’s family and friends during this extremely difficult time,” Summers said in a statement. “Thank you to our local emergency responders for their medical care and assistance.”
Deer Valley and Park City Mountain prohibit tubing on resort property, and people are highly discouraged from visiting the slopes after hours.
“Deer Valley is closed to winter sports activities at all times, except during operating hours. Sledding, uphill travel, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling and hiking are not permitted at Deer Valley at any time of the day or night during the ski season,” Summers said.
Two teenagers in 2011 were critically injured in a similar tubing accident after regular skiing hours at Deer Valley. Jessica Frankel, a 16-year-old from Shanker Heights, Ohio, later died from the injuries she sustained after a tube she was riding went off the ski run and struck a tree.
A memorial has been created in her honor near the trail by the Lady Morgan lift.