CHAIR LIFT ACCIDENT: Six of Eight Injured Sugarloaf Skiers Released from Maine Hospital

December 29, 2010

Carrabassett Valley, Maine - At least six out of the eight injured skiers in Maine chair lift accident were released from Franklin Memorial hospital on Wednesday.

The six skiers were sent home while the other two received further medical treatment from a larger hospital, reports said.

On Tuesday, the Sugarloaf resort's chair lift collapsed, causing skiers to slump 25 to 30 feet onto the Sugarloaf Mountain.

Sugarloaf resort representative commented that high wind was the primary factor in the accident.

Rebecca London, one of the injured skiers, released a statement in ABC's Good Morning America disproving the occurrence of extreme high wind at the time of accident.

Sugarloaf resort manager John Driller had made previous report on the resort's scheduled replacement for the twin west and east lifts in summer of 2011 due to its vulnerability to wind.

Reports said that the wind blasts at 40 mph on Tuesday morning. Sugarloaf implemented a "wind hold", but later started its operations at 10:30 a.m.

At least two of the injured skiers reported that a Sugarloaf worker was seen on the tower before the cable collapsed.

The Maine Department of Professional and Financial Regulation officer has confirmed that Sugarloaf passed a recent inspection and has valid license for 2010.

The Maine Board of Elevator and Tramway Safety officers are investigating high wind, mechanical difficulty, or admin negligence as cause of the accident.