A Flight for Life helicopter landed near the base of chairlift 3 on Friday morning at Purgatory at Durango Mountain Resort where a 12-year-old girl hit a tree.
The girl’s condition was not immediately known. She reportedly suffered leg, pelvis and jaw injuries, said Dan Bender, spokesman with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred at 10:20 a.m. The helicopter landed on the back side of the mountain shortly before 11 a.m.
Chairlift 3, also called the Hermosa Park Express Lift, is a high-speed quad that provides access to other lifts on the back side, including chairlift 5 and chairlift 8.
The girl was skiing an intermediate trail known as Legends, said Kim Oyler, spokeswoman for the resort.
The resort declined to release the girl’s name or hometown.
She was wearing a helmet, Oyler said.
The girl was flown by helicopter to Mercy Regional Medical Center.
The hospital does not release patient conditions without a patient’s name.
Because the incident occurred on the back side of the mountain, Purgatory Ski Patrol provided medical assistance. Medics with Durango Fire & Rescue Authority responded to the base area in case they were needed.
shane@durangoherald.com
