Employee dies, 2nd injured when maintenance basket falls from chairlift at Mt. Hood Skibowl

GOVERNMENT CAMP Ore. (KPTV) - A 29-year-old man died and a second person was rushed to the hospital after a maintenance basket fell from a chairlift at Mt. Hood Skibowl on Thursday, according to the sheriff’s office.

At about 9:30 a.m., on April 30, deputies with the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office were sent to the Mt. Hood Skibowl East after reports that two employees had fallen from the upper-bowl chairlift into rugged terrain. A third person at the scene reported that they had started CPR.

Emergency crews from fire, medical and the sheriff’s office found the two people shortly after 10 a.m. Due to the remote location, responders used special equipment, including all-terrain vehicles and air medical resources.

They determined that one of the workers had already died by the time rescue crews arrived. The second worker was rushed to the hospital by Life Flight.

The worker who died has been identified as 29-year-old Gregory Steven Hunter, of Government Camp.

“This was a complex and challenging incident in difficult terrain,” said Hoodland Fire officials. “We appreciate the coordinated efforts of all responding agencies and extend our thoughts to those impacted.”

Deputies said the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been notified about the death and will be investigating.

Scott Kline, the Hoodland Fire District division chief, spoke briefly with FOX 12: “Being that we’re a small mountain community, I imagine there are people in the community that know what happened or will soon find out and will need to take some time to process.”

When contacted for comment, Mt. Hood Skibowl said, “We are focused on our employees families and team members and have no further comments at this time.”

No other information has been released at this time.