February 14, 2020
Updated to include town in NJ and additional information.
Special thanks to Vail Daily for contributing to this report.
VAIL COLORADO (EAGLE)–According to reports a New Jersey man has died by Chair 37 Skyline Express Lift in the Blue Sky Basin area of Vail’s legendary back bowls. Jason Varnish, 46, of Short Hills, New Jersey, died Thursday on Vail Mountain, coroner Kara Bettis has confirmed.
Update from Vail Daily:
Coroner Kara Bettis said the death has been ruled an accident.
Bettis, in a text, wrote: “We are still investigating how this whole situation happened. According to our initial investigation, the deceased slipped through the seat of the chair lift and his ski coat got caught up in the chair. The coat ended up going up around his head and neck area putting his neck in a position that compromised his airway.”
See Vail Daily for further updates on the investigation
Blue Sky Basin was closed after the incident:
Blue Sky Basin is still currently closed. We will keep you posted.
— VailMtnAlerts (@VailMtnAlerts) February 13, 2020
Please also follow this breaking story at Vail Daily for the latest information.
File Photos of Vail’s back bowls and Blue Sky Basin areas by: Dennis Symons, Jr.