Investigators probe Wis. ski lift accident

MERRIMAC, Wis. -- Investigators were trying to determine Friday how a packed ski lift suddenly ran backward, injuring at least 14 skiers and snowboarders.

One remained under observation at an area hospital on Friday evening, said Joe Vittengl, general manager of Devil's Head Resort in Merrimac, about 25 miles northwest of Madison. He said the lift was inspected before the start of the season, and that the resort would have all its lifts inspected again immediately.

The state Commerce Department is leading the investigation.

The accident occurred around 7 p.m. Thursday. The chairlift was operating normally when it stopped and reversed direction, Sauk County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Chip Meister said

Riders David Brady and Carl Schleich said they saw dozens of skiers jump off the lift, some falling more than 20 feet, to avoid smashing into a wall at the bottom. Brady said he could hear chairs crashing and the sound of metal on metal.

Michal Hancovsky said he and a friend were near the top when the lift started moving backward quickly.

"I seen all these people down here hurt and all this metal," he said, referring to the base of the lift. "We were hearing screams from down here at the bottom and decided to jump off."

Jason Lucht said he jumped about 25 feet.

"Everyone is yelling 'jump' ... So we just jumped off and it was pretty scary, but we got off just fine," he said.

Meister said the lift eventually stopped. Resort employees and rescue workers spent more than two hours getting skiers down, he said.

Vittengl said the lift had been inspected and cleared to operate by an independent engineer, as required by state regulations, on Nov. 5, before the start of the ski season. He also said the lift's safety systems are routinely checked more frequently that industry standards require.

The chairlift had four independent mechanisms to stop it in case of trouble, he said. It will remain out of service until the investigation is completed.

Hospital officials said they treated 14 people.

Seven skiers were treated at Sauk Prairie Memorial Hospital in Prairie Du Sac. Six had "muscular skeletal" pains and were released, and one person broke their ankle and was expected to be released Friday, hospital spokesman Ken Carlson said.

Seven others were treated at St. Clare Hospital in Baraboo, hospital spokesman Kevin Grohskopf said. Six were treated and released, and one was treated for undisclosed injuries and was stable.