Ski lift accident in W. Virginia leaves several stranded, 2 injured

ski lift accident
Several skiers are injured after a ski lift accident at Timberline Resort. WTOP listener Gary Madison from McLean, Virginia says he and two boy scouts from Woodbridge were rescued from the lift after being stuck for about 90 minutes. (Courtesy WTOP listener Gary Madison)
(Courtesy WTOP listener Gary Madison)
(Courtesy WTOP listener Gary Madison)
(Courtesy WTOP listener Gary Madison)
(1/4)
ski lift accident

WASHINGTON — A ski lift failure at Timberline Resort Saturday morning left 100 people stranded and two others injured.

A mechanical failure around 9 a.m. on the “Thunderstruck” triple chairlift caused the cables to drop, Timberline officials said in a statement. The resort was subsequently shut down.

Officials say nine people were evaluated. Two people with non-life threatening injuries were taken to a local hospital.

The ski patrol was on the scene and began a lift evacuation. It took approximately two hours to remove the rest of the skiers in the lift chairs off the lift, West Virginia Metro News reports.

WTOP listener Gary Madison from McLean, Virginia says he and two boy scouts from Woodbridge were rescued from the lift after being stuck for about 90 minutes.

WTOP Twitter follower Philip Garrett tweeted that he and his ski team fell from the lift.

It’s was not immediately known what caused the lift to malfunction.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Federal News Network Logo
Log in to your WTOP account for notifications and alerts customized for you.

Sign up