TL;DR
A snowboarder's fatal fall from a Keystone Resort chairlift has reignited discussions about lift safety protocols and the use of restraint bars at ski resorts across the United States.
Snowboarder's Death Following Keystone Chairlift Fall Raises Safety Questions
A tragic incident following a fall from a lift at Keystone Resort in Colorado has brought ski lift safety into the spotlight. Donovan Romero, a 32-year-old snowboarder from Littleton, Colorado, died on May 2, 2025, from injuries sustained in a fall from the Ruby Express chairlift at Keystone Resort in December 2024. The incident has sparked discussions about chairlift safety measures and regulations across US ski resorts.
Romero fell approximately 15 metres onto the closed Diamondback trail. Witnesses reported that he briefly hung from the armrest before falling. Importantly, the safety bar was not lowered at the time of the incident. Romero was wearing a helmet and was immediately airlifted to hospital, where he received treatment for several months before his passing.
The Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board investigated the incident and concluded that a lift malfunction did not cause the fall. They closed their investigation, stating no further inquiry was necessary. However, Romero's family has since advocated for stricter safety bar requirements, questioning why resorts do not enforce their use.Chairlift fatalities are relatively rare, with only 35 reported at US ski areas since 1956. Most of these incidents did not involve mechanical failures. While the National Ski Areas Association recommends always lowering the safety bar, Colorado does not mandate its use, unlike some other states such as Vermont.
