TL;DR
A maintenance basket fell from the upper bowl chairlift at Mt. Hood Skibowl East on 30 April, killing one worker and seriously injuring another. The incident occurred in steep terrain during what appears to have been routine maintenance work. Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been notified and is investigating.
Fatal Accident During Maintenance Operations at Oregon Ski Area
A worker died and another was seriously injured on 30 April when a maintenance basket fell from a chairlift at Mt. Hood Skibowl East in Oregon. The incident occurred shortly before 9:30 a.m. during what appears to have been routine maintenance work on the upper bowl chairlift.
The Incident
Two employees were working in a maintenance basket attached to the chairlift when it fell into steep terrain below. Emergency services received reports that one worker was unconscious at the scene, with a third person - presumably another resort employee - beginning CPR before medics arrived.
Multiple agencies responded, including Clackamas County Sheriff's Office, Hoodland Fire, Clackamas Fire, American Medical Response, search and rescue volunteers, and U.S. Forest Service law enforcement. A command post was established at the base area.
Medics reached the workers shortly after 10:00 a.m. One was conscious and breathing; the other had no pulse. Despite resuscitation efforts, one worker was pronounced dead at the scene. The injured worker was transported by helicopter to hospital for treatment.
