New Jersey man dies on Killington mountain

[Vinny Vincenzo]

New Jersey man dies on Killington mountain

January 30, 2007

By Sarah Hinckley Herald Staff

A 21-year-old man from New Jersey died after colliding with a tree while skiing at Killington Mountain Resort a little before noon Monday.

Pat Pallotta of Fairfield, N.J., was skiing on the Skyeburst Trail and making a turn onto the Great Eastern Trail. He is believed to have been traveling at a high rate of speed, according to a report from Vermont State Police.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and all those affected by this tragic incident," said Allen Wilson, president and managing director of Killington Resort, in a written statement.

Pallotta was not wearing a helmet and appeared to lose control, going off the side of the trail and hitting several trees, according to the police report.

Killington Ski Patrol responded to the accident. When they arrived on the scene, Pallotta was able to respond to questions with accurate, one-word answers. He then lost consciousness and did not recover, according to the police report.

Conditions on the trails were packed powder and machine-groomed earlier Monday morning, according to Tom Horrocks, communications director for Killington Mountain. Weather conditions Monday were clear and sunny.

The trails Pallotta were traveling on are a "more difficult" rating, a second-tier rating on a four-tier scale, with extremely difficult being the highest level.

Pallotta was pronounced dead while Regional Ambulance Service transported him to Rutland Regional Medical Center.

It is the first ski-related fatality since 2004 at Killington, Horrocks said.

Rutland Herald

[SkiDork]

Sad.

[HelmetCam]

It is the first ski-related fatality since 2004 at Killington, Horrocks said.

Didn't somebody die sliding off Double Dipper into some snowmaking equipment last year? Or maybe it was the year before. But 2004? I guess I'm getting old.

Very sad news...

[Steve]

I was driving from K to Pico yesterday at about 11:30 and saw an ambulance coming up the hill. I wonder if that was for this kid..

sad.

-steve

[BigKahuna13]

It is the first ski-related fatality since 2004 at Killington, Horrocks said.

Didn't somebody die sliding off Double Dipper into some snowmaking equipment last year? Or maybe it was the year before. But 2004? I guess I'm getting old.

Very sad news...

I thought that was 2005 too. Sad.

[andyzee]

It is the first ski-related fatality since 2004 at Killington, Horrocks said.

Didn't somebody die sliding off Double Dipper into some snowmaking equipment last year? Or maybe it was the year before. But 2004? I guess I'm getting old.

Very sad news...

I thought that was 2005 too. Sad.

That was 2004/2005 season, right around New Years

[MrsG]

Sad . . . we saw the aftermath of the accident and was hoping all was OK . . . :(

[Clutch]

That was 2004/2005 season, right around New Years

January 2nd 2005

+++ vibes to Pat's family and friends

[Bubba]

There was a Dartmouth Hitchcock medivac chopper here along with the ambulance but, from the story, I guess it didn't matter. Sad.

[wannabeskibum]

Saw somebody in the woods with ski patrol on Saturday at nearly the same spot -

[Highway Star]

Bummer, that sucks.....where exactly did this happen?

Always watch out for putting yourself in a "manditory turn" situation....stay safe out there...

[SkiDork]

Bummer, that sucks.....where exactly did this happen?

Always watch out for putting yourself in a "manditory turn" situation....stay safe out there...

Sounds like he was making a left onto the snowshed crossover from Skyeburst, didn't make the turn (maybe because there were people in the way) and slammed into the woods

[Highway Star]

Bummer, that sucks.....where exactly did this happen?

Always watch out for putting yourself in a "manditory turn" situation....stay safe out there...

Sounds like he was making a left onto the snowshed crossover from Skyeburst, didn't make the turn (maybe because there were people in the way) and slammed into the woods

Indeed....that's a very dangerous turn:

- Easy to gain high speed down skyeburst without noticing
- Regularly poorly groomed in the left side corner of skyeburst above the crossover
- Down dip to the crossover, with a bit of ditch, then the crossover, then a lip going into the woods
- High traffic
- Icy/hardpacked due to high traffic

With or without traffic, I'd say it would be very easy for a low-advanced skier to get up to 35-40 mph on skyeburst, then lose it while trying to make a turn on the variable/(relatively) rough terrain of the intersection........and we see the result here. :(

[Keithus]

Very sad. Helmets save lives.

[andyzee]

Very sad. Helmets save lives.

I am a big advocate of helmets, would never go out without one. Unfortunetly that statement is not always true.