Out-of-Control SUV Careens Down Ski Slope at Lake Tahoe Ski Resort | 5 People Injured

Robin Azer | | Post Tag for Industry NewsIndustry News
SUV overturns at Heavenly yesterday; emergency crews on site to assist. Arrow shows approximate path of the SUV. Credit: David Cook. Edit: snowbrains
SUV overturns at Heavenly yesterday; emergency crews on site to assist. Arrow shows approximate path of the SUV. Credit: David Cook. Edit: snowbrains

With the possible exception of ski racers, no one enjoys icy conditions. Least of all the driver of a SUV that careened out of control in Tahoe this past Saturday. Icy road conditions lead to the SUV swerving off the road and onto the ski slopes at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Approximate path SUV took off Keller Drive and onto a ski run at Heavenly ski resort, CA then off 12-foot retaining wall. image: google. edit: snowbrains
Approximate path SUV took off Keller Drive and onto a ski run at Heavenly ski resort, CA then off 12-foot retaining wall. image: google. edit: snowbrains

Five people were taken to Barton Memorial Hospital on Saturday after the vehicle they were riding in ended up careening down World Cup run at Heavenly Mountain Resort and then landing upside down in the parking lot at California Lodge.

The Toyota 4Runner lost control about 4:30pm Nov. 26 as it came down Keller Driver. There is about a 90-degree right turn. The driver was not able to handle the icy conditions.

Instead of staying on the pavement, the vehicle went onto the ski slope, picked up more speed and then went over a 12-foot retaining wall, landing on the roof of the SUV.

Lake Tahoe News

Heavenly Trail Map with Black Circle showing location of accident.
Heavenly Trail Map with Black Circle in lower right showing location of accident.

As the California side of Heavenly is not yet open, the parking lot was mostly empty. The seven passengers in the SUV were from out of town.ย Fortunately, none of the five injured passengers suffered any life-threatening injuries.

Credit: SkiHeavenlyTahoe.com
Credit: SkiHeavenlyTahoe.com

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2 thoughts on “Out-of-Control SUV Careens Down Ski Slope at Lake Tahoe Ski Resort | 5 People Injured

  1. Best report on this ‘accident’ posted so far. I couldn’t find anything about it on Tahoe Daily Tribune. If anyone finds the name of the driver or passengers or any quotes from them, please share.

    While I usually believe ‘speed is your friend’, this 4Runner must have been going way too fast and may have hit the gas instead of brakes to cross a barely covered ski run and go off the retaining wall well after run flattens out. They are lucky they all lived and that they did not hit the World Cup lift base.

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