Man Dies After Falling from Chairlift at Montana Ski Resort

BILLINGS, Mont.—A 37-year-old man lost his life after falling from a malfunctioning chairlift at a ski resort in Montana, as reported by local officials and a representative for Red Lodge Mountain.

The individual was riding solo in a three-person chair that transports skiers up the mountain when he fell from an indeterminate height, authorities stated. The incident occurred on Monday just before noon at the ski area located southeast of Billings in the Beartooth Mountains.

Jeffrey Zinne of Billings was transported to a hospital in Billings, where he was declared dead early Wednesday due to injuries sustained from the fall, according to Carbon County Sheriff Josh McQuillan and Rich Hoffman from the Yellowstone County Coroner’s Office.

The chairlift, referred to as the Triple Chair, was halted after the incident, noted Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson Troy Hawks. Over 100 people who were aboard at the time were safely evacuated by ski patrols who utilized ropes to lower them to the ground.

Hawks mentioned that the lift experienced a mechanical issue at the moment Zinne fell, but he refrained from providing additional details, indicating that the situation is under investigation. They are also examining weather conditions and the actions of the victim, he added.

On the morning of the incident, other chairlifts at Red Lodge Mountain were not operational due to strong winds. The National Weather Service reported wind gusts reaching approximately 50 mph in the area shortly before and after the accident.

Hawks further explained that the nearly mile-long Triple Chairlift, which was constructed in 1983, was functioning within established safety parameters. It will remain closed until a thorough evaluation is performed by an engineer, he stated.

According to Hawks, staff at the ski area conduct daily inspections of the chairlifts. An annual professional inspection is mandated by Red Lodge Mountain’s insurance provider and the U.S. Forest Service, which leases land to the ski facility.

Zinne, who was snowboarding prior to the accident, was married and had a 2-year-old son. He owned the Montana Air Cartage freight hauling business, as indicated by a post on a GoFundMe page created for his family.

“He was more than a boss to many; he was a friend and mentor,” recalled Jessice Sande, a manager at Montana Air Cartage, emphasizing Zinne’s contagious laughter.

According to the National Ski Areas Association, fatal accidents involving ski lifts are quite uncommon. From 1956 to 2024, 35 fatalities were reported involving chairlifts and aerial ropeways. Sixteen of these deaths were attributed to mechanical failures, based on the organization’s data.

The most recent death during this period occurred in 2020 when a man died at Vail resort in Colorado after his clothing got tangled in part of the chairlift, restricting his ability to breathe.

By Matthew Brown