Crystal Mountain Resort shutdown by B.C. Safety Authority
By Nelson Daily Staff
The fallout from a chairlift accident Saturday has the small Okanagan Ski Resort, Crystal Mountain, remaining shutdown Sunday as the B.C. Safety Authority conducts tests on the lifts.
Saturday, four people were injured when a chairlift broke and three chairs fell six metres to the ground below.
Two men, a teen boy and a woman were injured in the accident.
One person was in critical condition Sunday afternoon while the three other victims suffered injuries including broken ribs, a broken leg and a hurt shoulder — were mountain staff, according to a statement from the resort near West Kelowna.
The resort’s operating licence has been suspended until three on-site investigators determine that its two chairlifts and T-bar are operating safely.
Skiers injured after chairlift falls to ground
Media sources are reporting that two people are in critical condition following a chair lift accident at the Crystal Mountain ski resort near Kelowna Saturday morning.
The accident happened approximately 11 a.m. PT Saturday when an empty chair struck a ski tower and fell about six metres causing other chairs to fall.
Crystal Mountain Ski Resort General Manager Mark Morin told CBC News the empty chair started swinging and then hit a tower, causing the line to go off the track, and other chairs to fall about six to seven metres.
“What I was told was the chair was swinging and hit the tower and that was it,” Morin told reporters at the scene.
One of critical injured was taken to hospital by helicopter and the other injured person was transported in an advanced- life-support ground ambulance.
Two other people were taken to hospital.
Crystal Mountain 25 minutes west from downtown Kelowna. The hill has suspended ski operations pending the investigation.
