Ski accident kills Ontario girl
Collingwood
February 18, 2008

A Dorchester teen is dead after hitting a tree during a weekend skiing accident near Collingwood.

According to police, the 15-year-old girl was skiing with her father and 10-year-old sister at Alpine Ski Club in Craigleith on Saturday afternoon when she lost control and left the ski trail, hitting the tree.

The girl's father reported his daughter missing and ski patrollers found the injured girl a short time later.

She was taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Autopsy results show the teenager
died of trauma to her chest.
Police say the teen was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident.

The victim's name is not being released yet at the request of the family.

Police continue their investigation.

There have been similar accidents in Ontario in recent years:

• In March 2003, 15-year-old Heather Neatt died after striking a tree. She lost control skiing at Sir Sam's Ski Area near Haliburton.

• In February 1999, Jeremy Austin's snowboard veered off the ski trail and hit an ice patch at Talisman Ski Resort in Kimberley. He slammed into a tree and was killed.

The death comes just two weeks after a Quebec coroner recommended that ski hills increase efforts to encourage patrons to wear helmets. Dr. Jacques Robinson said in a report Pascal Lepitre may have lived had he worn a helmet while skiing in 2007.