On Friday, the jury in the wrongful death lawsuit against Vail Resorts was shown footage taken by Taft Conlin, the 13 year old who was killed in an avalanche near the upper gate to Prima Cornice.
Background on the trial – Where Does The Truth Lie In Death of 13 Year Old Killed By Avalanche At Vail
GoPro video from Conlin, and another boy he was skiing with that day, wrapped up the first week of testimony.
The first video shown was one shot by Conlin’s friend. It showed the boys laughing and shouting as they enjoyed their day and one another.
The second was from Conlin’s own GoPro. It shows Conlin adjusting his gear before wrapping his pole straps around his wrists and pushing off.
The video then shows Conlin making some nice powder turns in perfect snow before going completely white as the snow envelops him. A few seconds later, it ends.
Conlin’s GoPro was found by Patrick McInerny, a Vail ski patroller, who happened to be the father of one of Conlin’s friends who he was skiing with that day.
After recovering the GoPro, McInerny brought it into ski patrol headquarters above Prima Cornice and handed it over to U.S. Forest Service officials.
This was the first time the footage was shown publicly.
