A tragic incident occurred at a Montana ski area where a 37-year-old man, Jeffrey Zinne of Billings, died after falling from a chairlift that was experiencing mechanical issues. The accident took place at Red Lodge Mountain in the Beartooth Mountains on Monday and Zinne succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday. More than 100 people on the lift were safely evacuated by ski patrollers after the incident.
The lift, known as the Triple Chair, was halted following the accident and remains closed pending a full assessment. Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson Troy Hawks stated that the lift was operating within safety parameters and the circumstances surrounding the accident are under investigation. High winds in the area may have played a factor in the incident.
Zinne, a married father of a 2-year-old son and owner of Montana Air Cartage, was fondly remembered by colleagues as a boss, friend, and mentor. Fatal lift accidents at ski areas are rare, with data from the National Ski Areas Association showing 35 deaths related to chairlifts between 1956 and 2024.
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