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A Texas mother, 40-year-old Kelly Huber, died and two daughters were hurt after they fell about 25 feet from a quad chairlift Thursday morning Dec. 29 at Ski Granby Ranch, Colorado. The nine-year-old was airlifted to the Children’s Hospital in Denver and remains in serious condition and the 12-year-old was treated in the emergency department and released to family members on Thursday evening.
The accident occurred at about 9:30 a.m. on the Quick Draw Express, a quad detachable equipped with a restraint bar. Responders were called to the ski area at about 10 a.m. The three injured persons were taken to nearby Middle Park Medical Center, where Kelly Huber was pronounced dead at about 10:45 a.m. The youngest daughter, nine years old, was flown to Children’s Hospital. The second daughter, age 12, was treated at Middle Park and released.
A ruling on Huber’s cause and manner of death is pending an autopsy.
Few details of the accident have been made available. It was not clear what prompted the fall. The three were the only riders on the chair. However, the accident remains under investigation, and authorities report that there were several witnesses to the accident, both on the lift and on the slope below it. Those investigating the accident include the Grand County Sheriff’s Office, Granby Police Department, and the Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board.
Ski area spokesman Rod Kessler said the lift was shut down on Thursday “to make sure everything is in order.” The lift remained closed on Friday, and the Tramway Board said Friday the lift “will remain closed until deemed safe for public operation.”
In a statement released on Friday, the resort said, “All of us at Granby Ranch are deeply saddened by yesterday’s tragic incident at our resort. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of our guests. Our focus right now is on supporting those affected by this tragedy.” The resort is working with authorities to determine the cause of the incident, the statement added.
