Man Dies After Falling from Chairlift at Red Lodge Mountain

A tragic accident occurred at Red Lodge Mountain in Montana, where a man lost his life after falling from a chairlift experiencing mechanical issues. The incident took place on Monday, just before noon, involving a 37-year-old man named Jeffrey Zinne.

Zinne was riding alone on the Triple Chair, a three-person chairlift, when he fell from an unspecified height. He was immediately transported to a hospital in Billings, where he succumbed to his injuries the following night.

The cause of the fall remains under investigation, with authorities examining weather conditions, the victim's actions, and the mechanical problem affecting the chairlift. The lift was shut down after the accident, and over 100 skiers were evacuated by ski patrollers using ropes.

High winds were reported in the area at the time of the accident, with gusts reaching approximately 50 mph. The Triple Chairlift, which was built in 1983, was operating within safety parameters according to Red Lodge Mountain officials. However, it will remain closed until a thorough engineering assessment is completed.

Fatal accidents involving chairlifts are fortunately rare. Between 1956 and 2024, only 35 such incidents were recorded, with 16 attributed to mechanical malfunctions. The most recent fatality before this incident occurred in 2020 at Colorado's Vail resort, where a man's clothing became entangled in the chairlift, causing his death.