A tragic accident unfolded Thursday morning at Mt. Hood Skibowl, where one employee was killed and another seriously injured during a chairlift maintenance incident.
According to the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office and major new outlets, the two workers were inside a maintenance basket attached to the upper bowl chairlift when it fell into steep, rugged terrain below. Emergency crews were dispatched around 9:30 a.m. and had to use specialized rescue equipment, including all-terrain vehicles and air medical support, to reach the scene.
Officials said one worker was found conscious and breathing. The second employee was unresponsive, and despite lifesaving efforts, was pronounced dead at the scene. The injured worker was airlifted to Oregon Health & Science University for treatment. Their condition has not yet been released.
The incident is now being investigated as a workplace death, and Oregon OSHA has been notified. The identity of the worker who died has not yet been released pending family notification.
Mt. Hood Skibowl is one of Oregon’s best-known ski destinations and the largest night ski area in the United States, making today’s loss especially heartbreaking for the mountain community.
Our thoughts are with the victim’s loved ones, coworkers, and all those affected by this devastating tragedy.
