Ski Lift Accident at Sugarloaf

[Twitchin Kitten]

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This is one more reason not to go flying down a mountain with nothing but a pair of zip ties strapped to your feet.

Six injured in Sugarloaf ski lift accident <--clicky



By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff

Six people suffered non-life-threatening injuries in a chairlift accident this morning at the Sugarloaf Mountain ski resort in Maine, the resort said in a statement.

The accident happened at about 10:30 a.m. when the Spillway East chairlift derailed from the lift's eighth tower. Five chairs on the lift fell 25 to 30 feet to the ground, the resort said.

The injured skiers were treated and were being transported to a local hospital. At the time of the accident, there were 220 people dangling on the lift in the frigid winds.

The ski patrol evacuated all the people from the lift, the resort said in a statement at 1 p.m.

The resort said the cause of the incident was under investigation.

The two-passenger lift was manufactured and installed in 1975 and modified in 1983. It carries 162 chairs, each weighing 140 pounds. The lift is powered by a 250-horsepower motor. It is inspected daily and receives weekly, monthly, and yearly maintenance and testing, as well as an annual inspection by the Maine Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety, the resort said.

The Carrabassett Valley resort said it was concerned for those involved and expressed gratitude to safety personnel who responded.

"Sugarloaf Mountain is absolutely committed to the safety of its guests and employees," the resort said in a statement.

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[twisteroo]

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But mountain bikes on ski slopes are still cool, right?

[Twitchin Kitten]

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yes, you have a shot of living with the brakes

[twisteroo]

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I won't look too closely at this story, it's about the chair lift falling.
My first chair lift ride was this fall and it was kinda scary.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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I tried skiing twice. Both times I hated it. That lift freaked me out each time too and getting off it on those zip ties was not fun.

[twisteroo]

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I would never even try down hill skiing, cross country is bad enough.
I will try the mountain bike thing though.

[Twitchin Kitten]

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Skiing sucked. I had no feeling of control, even though I did fairly well for the two times I got out there. I'd rather be on a runaway horse - I can at least steer him away from rocks, trees and traffic.

[Jamminitin]

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Skiing sucked. I had no feeling of control, even though I did fairly well for the two times I got out there. I'd rather be on a runaway horse - I can at least steer him away from rocks, trees and traffic.

But not yourself.