Sonoma Co. Man Dies Skiing In South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA — A 49-year-old Sonoma County man died while skiing Dec. 27 in South Lake Tahoe, an official with the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office said Tuesday. Lewis Carrillo III, of Santa Rosa, was on the slopes at Heavenly Mountain Ski Resort when he was involved in a solo-skiing accident, sheriff's Sgt. Anthony Prencipe stated in a news release.

"First aid was provided on scene but they were unable to revive Lewis and he was pronounced dead," Prencipe said.

According to the sergeant, coroner's officials have not yet determined the cause of Carrillo's death.

Carrillo was a beginner being taught by a friend on a beginner trail when he "went over a retaining wall and down an embankment 30 to 40 feet, and sustained blunt force trauma with a liver laceration," according to a KOLO8 news report.

The Lake Valley Fire Protection District, which responded to the scene along with personnel from South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Heavenly Pro Ski Patrol, said in a statement on Facebook that a second party was injured trying to help rescue Carrillo.

"The second patient was transported to Barton Memorial Hospital with moderate injuries, while Lewis Carrillo III was pronounced deceased after lengthy recitative measures by all on-scene responders," Lake Valley Fire officials said.

Carrillo's life will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6 in a service at Lafferty and Smith chapel in Santa Rosa, according to his obituary posted on Legacy.com:

"CARRILLO, III, Lewis Lucky passed away all too soon at the age of 49 on December 27, 2017 in a ski accident in Tahoe. He is survived by his parents Lewis Lucky Carrillo, Jr, and Ann L. Withey. He is also survived by a sister Kimberly Terry (Fred), brothers Robert and Brandon Withey and numerous nieces and nephews. Lucky was born November 19, 1968 in Pax River, Maryland and spent most of his life living in Santa Rosa. Lucky was a graduate from Santa Rosa High School and UC Davis. He enjoyed motorcycles, archaeology, computers and most of all singing karaoke with friends. A service will he held at Lafferty and Smith chapel in Santa Rosa, CA Saturday, January 6th, 2018. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. and the service will be held at 2 p.m. Private inurnment. A potluck reception will follow, address to be given at service."

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