Says Marquez, “I was just skiing, like your regular day, and the guy just came out of nowhere. I didn’t have time to move because he was going so fast, so then I kind of just braced myself for what was gonna happen.” Marquez spent a night in the hospital following the incident.
The Eagle County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert for the skier who blindsided Marquez.
According to the police, the suspect is a white man in his 60s, who at the time of the incident, was wearing black pants, a black or gray jacket, goggles with purple lenses and a red strap, and an aged black helmet.
Crowded Slopes Put Skiers at Risk
Rachel Hanna, Marquez’s mother, says that the ski patrol was great, but that the slopes, in general, don’t feel safe right now. Says Hanna, “There’s way too many people on the runs compared to previous years. I have lived here all my life, and it seems like it’s definitely to a max capacity, and it doesn’t seem like there’s enough patrol for as many people are skiing out there.”
She also pointed out that ski patrol told her that incidents such as her son’s hit-and-run happen frequently. According to Hanna, “They did say that a lot of times when these sort of things happen, unfortunately, it’s very hard to find the person. So that’s why we’ve reached out to the sheriff’s department hoping that they can help us too.”
Hanna believes the crowded slopes play a significant role in her son’s injuries.
The number of passes sold this year by Vail Resorts, the owner of Beaver Creek, has increased. The company has sold 2.1 million passes for the 2021-2022 ski season. This is a 76 percent increase from last year.
According to Bloch & Chapleau Law Firm’s Joseph Bloch, “More people coming up to more people coming down at the same time, and it is congested and overcrowded. We know data. Skiing is a dangerous sport. You know, let’s face it, but it could be a lot safer if they implemented certain policies.”
The law firm deals with many clients injured on the slopes.
Safety Improvements Would Reduce Risks on Slopes
Bloch believes that a policy change could reduce the number of injuries at ski resorts. He believes that implementing cameras across the slopes, hiring more safety personnel, and requiring the publicity of injuries on the slopes would go a long way in making people safer.
He also points out that Vail Resorts knows there is a problem. Says Bloch, “There’s an astounding amount of people that are really badly injured that no one’s where it occurs. Vail knows exactly where it’s occurring. They know what time of the day it’s occurring. People should be aware of the risks of skiing.”
Channel 7 provides more information about Marquez’s story.
If you were injured while skiing or visiting a ski resort, we can help. Contact us to discuss your situation and determine if you have a case.
