Longtime Aspen, CO Resident Found Dead Under His Snowmobile on Backside of Aspen Mountain

SnowBrains | | Post Tag for Industry NewsIndustry News
aspen, snowmobiler, killed, accident, snowmobile
Jerome โ€œJerryโ€ Hatem, 59. Credit: Aspen Daily News

Jerome โ€œJerryโ€ Hatem, 59 a longtime Aspen resident and avid skier, was found dead late Monday underneath a snowmobile on the backside of Aspen Mountain, officials said Tuesday. Hatem was discovered late Monday near the top of Little Annie Road by a resident of the area, said Jesse Steindler, patrol captain with the Pitkin County Sheriffโ€™s Office.

Hatemโ€™s death appears accidental and likely occurred Sunday night, though he was not found until Monday night, according to Steindler and Pitkin County Deputy Coroner Eric Hansen.ย A nearbyย resident told sheriffโ€™s deputies he heard a snowmobile go up the road between 7 and 7:30 pm Sunday but thought nothing of it because itโ€™s a common mode of transportation in that area when itโ€™s covered in snow. The man said he then saw the snowmobile overturned uphill from his home the next morning about 7 am, reports the Aspen Times.

ย โ€œHe thought someone rolled it and walked home,โ€ Steindler said.

aspen, snowmobiler, killed, accident
Little Annie Road, on the backside of Aspen Mountain, CO

The resident went about his business all day and again noticed the overturned snowmobile about 7:30 pm Monday when he walked up the road to see who it belonged to, he said. When he got there, he saw Hatemโ€™s body underneath the snowmobile and recognized him, Steindler said. The surprise discovery upset the man, he said. He then walked back to his home and called authorities.

The official cause of Hatemโ€™s death remains under investigation and is pending an autopsy. It appeared to have been an accidental snowmobile accident.


Related Articles

Got an opinion? Let us know...