Unfortunately, he lacked the necessary speed and range, investigators say.
A 21-year-old man has died after trying to jump the width of a US highway in Colorado while attempting a “high-risk skiing stunt,” authorities say.
The incident occurred around 3 p.m. Tuesday when the Grand County Communications Center in Colorado received a 911 call about a skiing accident on Highway 40, west of Berthoud Pass Summit, saying a 21-year-old male skier had been found unconscious and not breathing, according to a report from the Grand County Sheriff's Office released Wednesday. .
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the victim attempted a high-risk skiing stunt by attempting to clear the width of Highway 40 and unfortunately lacked the necessary speed and distance, landing on the highway pavement,” officials said. “The victim was wearing a helmet and other protective gear.”
Officers began CPR on the man but were unable to revive him.
According to the Grant County Sheriff's Office, “Emergency responders arrived on scene and determined the male was deceased, and the Grant County Coroner's Office was notified to respond to the scene.
The incident blocked traffic in both directions on Highway 40 while investigators processed the incident and maintained the victim's privacy, police said.
The Grant County Coroner's Office now has primary jurisdiction over the case, and officials will release the victim's identity and cause of death as and when appropriate.
An investigation into the accident is currently underway.
