3rd Death This Year On PA Ski Slopes

A 21-year-old man died while skiing on a beginner trail at Blue Mountain Resort Sunday, marking the third death this season on Pennsylvania slopes.

The most recent fatal skiing accident happened around 6 p.m. Sunday at Blue Mountain Resort, spokeswoman Tricia Matsko confirmed to Patch.

The man was on a beginner terrain park trail and went off a snow built jump and fell, Matsko said. She said the man, identified Tuesday by authorities as Noel Pagan Jr, was transported to St. Luke’s Palmerton Hospital, where he passed away.

Carbon County Coroner Robert Miller Jr. said Pagan died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head and neck. His death was ruled accidental.

Matsko said Pagan was not wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, which is currently under investigation. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the young man’s family," Matsko said.

This is the third skiing death this year in Pennsylvania.

A teenager died after falling from a chair lift at Blue Mountain on New Year's Day. The 17-year old Hunterdon County, N.J. teen was remembered as a hockey standout. His death was ruled accidental, and the cause was multiple blunt force trauma, the coroner said at the time.

The two deaths at Blue Mountain "are isolated incidents that only involved the individuals and no other skiers or snowboarders," Matsko said.

There was a death earlier this month at Camelback Resort, as well.

On Feb. 3, 80-year-old Rudolf Huber died after crashing. The Morning Call reported Huber was an expert skier who was known for going fast on the slopes.

Matsko noted safety is "top concern" for Blue Mountain. "We can’t stress enough the use of helmets, putting the safety bar down on the chair lift and reading the skier and snowboard responsibility code prior to engaging in the sport," she said.

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