A devastating event occurred at Red Lodge Mountain in Montana, as a father lost his life due to a mechanical malfunction on a chairlift. Jeff Zinne, a 37-year-old snowboarder, was riding alone on the Triple Lift line on Monday afternoon when he fell from the three-seater lift due to an unexplained mechanical failure.
Zinne was promptly transported to a nearby hospital following the incident, but sadly, he did not survive his injuries. The exact height from which he fell and the specific mechanical problems that led to the accident are still unknown.
On the day of the incident, wind speeds had exceeded 50 mph, resulting in the closure of some lift lines. A spokesperson from Red Lodge Mountain confirmed that an investigation into the accident was in progress, but refrained from providing additional details.
The mishap led to a large-scale evacuation of the lift, which was immediately halted, leaving over a hundred people suspended in the air. Ski patrol teams had to utilize a rope system to safely lower each person to the ground.
The Triple Chairlift, in operation since 1983, was reportedly in compliance with safety regulations, with daily inspections conducted, as per the resort’s statement. The lift will remain shut until the cause of the accident is thoroughly examined.
Zinne leaves behind his 2-year-old son and his wife, Meghan, with whom he co-owned a local shipping business. A GoFundMe page established for his family portrays Zinne as a man with a “passion for life, infectious laughter, and kind-hearted nature” who consistently prioritized others.
According to the National Ski Areas Association, fatal accidents on ski lifts are relatively uncommon. From 1956 to 2024, there have been only 35 fatal incidents, 16 of which were caused by mechanical failures. The last fatal incident before Zinne’s tragic fall took place in 2020 at Colorado’s Vail resort, where a man was asphyxiated by a piece of his clothing that got entangled in the lift.