Local authorities in Aspen are looking for a skier who collided with 77-year-old Laurence Niles last month at Aspen Highlands.
Following the incident Niles was transferred to the intensive-care unit at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. He has since been moved to the hospital’s neurological unit where he is listed in good condition.
The collision occurred on Feb. 17 at around 10:55 a.m. in the Meadows area, near Tower 10 of the Lodge Peak chairlift. An eye witness said that both skiers were skiing downhill when the suspect “lost control and slid in front of (Niles)”. In the Sheriff’s report the suspect is described as a stocky male who was wearing a blue jacket, a blue hat and possibly black pants.
By leaving the vicinity of the collision the skier is in violation of Colorado Ski Safety Act which states, “No skier involved in a collision with another skier or person in which an injury results shall leave the vicinity of the collision before giving his or her name and current address to an employee of the ski area operator or the ski patrol, except for the purpose of securing aid for a person injured in the collision …”
The Sheriff’s Office lead investigator, Brad Gibson, said it is too early to say what, if any, charges would be levied against the person who struck Niles.
Anyone with information about the accident can call the Sheriff’s Office at 970-920-5300.