On May 2nd at 1:45pm, Donovan Romero of Littleton, Colorado, died from injuries sustained from a fall off a Keystone chairlift in December 2024.
According to The Colorado Sun, the 32-year-old fell from the Ruby Express chairlift near the third tower on December 11th, falling an estimated 47 feet after momentarily hanging from the chair’s armrest. A witness stated that Romero appeared to be leaning over attempting to adjust his snowboard bindings when he fell, though Tonette, his mother, denies this.
A GoFundMe started to raise money for Donavan’s treatment explains that he suffered a head injury along with multiple physical injuries. The same GoFundMe states that funds raised will now be used cover final expenses and provide support to the family as they grieve.
A statement written by his mother criticizes the lack of required safety bar usage across much of the United States and calls for consistent, enforceable rules requiring safety bar use across all ski areas. Read the full statement from Tonette below.
Our thoughts are with Donovan’s friends and family at this time.
Tonette Romero GoFundMe Statement:
With heavy hearts, we share that on May 2nd at 1:45 pm Donovan took his last breath surrounded by love and in his moms arms. After five months of highs and lows he has now returned to the stars.
Your support—whether through donations, messages, or simply holding us in your thoughts—meant more than words can say. It gave us strength, comfort, and the ability to be present with Donovan in his final days.
Funds raised will now help cover final expenses and provide support to the family during their time of grief. Any remaining amount will be used in ways that will honor Donovans memory.
One of the most concerning aspects of ski lift safety is that, in many U.S. states, there is no requirement for riders to use the safety bar, also known as the restraint bar. While these bars are standard equipment on most modern chairlifts, their use is often left to individual discretion—even for children.
This lack of regulation stands in stark contrast to safety standards in many European countries, where lowering the safety bar is mandatory and enforced. In the U.S., the National Ski Areas Association (NSAA) only recommends using the safety bar, but does not mandate it, and there is no federal or universally enforced rule requiring its use.
The result? Riders—especially kids, beginners, or those with limited mobility—can easily be at risk of falling, particularly during loading, unloading, or if a sudden jolt occurs mid-ride. Tragedies have happened. And the heartbreaking truth is that many of them could have been prevented by a simple act: lowering the bar.
We must ask: why is this optional? Why aren’t ski resorts required to ensure that riders use the safety bar, especially when it’s installed for a reason? A safety measure is only effective if it’s used.
It’s time to call for consistent, enforceable rules requiring safety bar use across all ski areas—so that no one else has to suffer the unimaginable consequences of inaction or regulation
No other industry that transports people at height—whether it’s aviation, amusement parks, or public transit—would allow such a critical safety measure to go unregulated. Imagine an airline making seatbelt use optional, or a rollercoaster ride where harnesses are left to personal choice. It would be unthinkable. And yet, in the ski industry, passengers are regularly suspended dozens of feet in the air, often with children or new skiers, and there is no requirement to lower the safety bar.
This gap in oversight is not just a regulatory blind spot—it’s a failure to prioritize human life. When a safety feature exists but is not required, it sends the message that convenience outweighs caution. That mindset has already cost lives, and it will again unless change is made.
From the bottom of our hearts: thank you.
With love and gratitude,
Tonette and Van