Youth in hospital after falling off chairlift at Sugar Bowl

By Reno Gazette-Journal

A 7-year-old boy is in critical condition at Renown Regional Medical Center after falling 60 feet from a chairlift at Sugar Bowl Ski Area on Sunday afternoon.

According to John Monson, director of sales and marketing at Sugar Bowl, the boy, whose name has not been released, is a member of the Sugar Bowl Ski Team. He was riding on the Mt. Lincoln Chair Lift with two other skiers when he fell from the lift onto a hard-packed surface. Some of the area below the lift was not covered in snow.

The youngster was transported to Renown Regional Medical Center with traumatic injuries. He was wearing a helmet, Monson said.

Investigators are still attempting to determine whether or not the safety bar on the chair lift was down, Monson said.