« Previous Story | The Industry Report Home Page | Next Story »

Bar-Hopping Boarder Contrite After Collision

By J.D. O'Connor
December 11, 2006

Christopher Dunsmore, 22, of Avon, admits he had been drinking when he collided with an 8-year-old girl on Vail Mountain last Saturday but insists he was not drunk and that he "understands" why the girl's father lashed out at him after the incident.

Dunsmore said he came over the hill about 2 p.m. and saw the child but couldn't avoid hitting her.

"I hit the brakes as hard as I could," he told a local television station. "From the bottom of my heart, I truly was sorry. I felt awful, and anyone in that situation would feel the same way."

Dunsmore said when he went to apologize, Kiril Petrovski, 56, of Edwards, punched him twice in the face.

"I walked up ... and I put out my hand and he hesitated for probably a good five seconds. He didn't want to shake my hand and I completely understand that. I would feel the exact same way if I was in his position," Dunsmore said.

He told the station that he had consumed five drinks before the accident but was not drunk.

Petrovski couldn't be reached for comment. His wife, Luiza, said the family has had enough attention because of it and didn't want any more. But their daughter is fine and wants to go skiing again Friday, she said.

Dunsmore told authorities that he was traveling at the same speed as other skiers and riders on the run when he saw the girl cutting across the slope as he came over a hill. He told police he tried to stop but couldn't and "took her out."

Dunsmore said he was confronted by the girl's father and left the scene. After a brief search, he was found at Garfinkels bar in Vail. He admitted colliding with the child, and also said he had been drinking throughout the day - but refused to submit to a Breathalyzer test.

Dunsmore was arrested for third-degree assault and two petty offenses under Colorado's Ski Safety Act of 1979. The law prohibits using a ski slope while impaired or under the influence of alcohol. It also prohibits leaving the area of a collision in which a person was injured prior to providing contact information to the ski patrol.

Violators are subject to fines of up to $1,000. Starting in June, the amount went up from a $300 maximum penalty.

Dunsmore was taken to Vail Valley Medical Center but refused medical attention. He was then booked into the Eagle County jail and later released on $100 bond.

The child was treated at Vail Valley Medical Center for a cut to her mouth, bruises to her right hip and a sore left leg.

Mountain managers were quick to point out that the incident was an isolated one. So-called "Slope Rage" incidents, they said, are actually on the decline.

"The situation that occurred on Vail Mountain this weekend is an isolated incident that is not typical of the experience of our guests," said resort spokesperson Jen Brown.

"If anything, we're seeing a slight decline," said Rich Berkley, Aspen's director of mountain operations. "There is more awareness. Ski patrol saturates key areas at certain times."

Routt County officials responded to a similar incident at Steamboat Springs in January. After a 16-year-old girl accidentally ran over the back of a 7-year-old girl's skis and knocked her down, the younger girl's father struck the helmet-wearing teenager in the head several times. The 52-year-old Littleton man received a sentence of few days in jail, a year's probation, a week of community service and a course in anger management.

"Incidents like that are few and far between," Routt County sheriff's Sgt. Dan Kelliher said. "Skier rage is like road rage. It's always been there. Some incidents get more attention than others. But we're not seeing anything out of the ordinary."

« Previous Story | The Industry Report Home Page | Next Story »

Email To A Friend

Comments

As a former ski instructor I can find fault with the boarder who was said to be under the influnce. But from what I read about the incident, the young lady who was run into could be at fault as well , a person crossing a run is responsible for looking uphill and not cutting off an oncomming skiier or boarder. Boarding while drunk, without a doubt is bad but not respecting the right of way of other people on the hill and crossing a run without using proper caution is just as bad, and just as much of danger to others on the mountain. Does anyone bother to read, understand and follow the "Skiiers Resposibilty Code" anymore

Posted by: Steve Diamond | December 13, 2006 09:27 AM

	This is a tough one, especially when the father was coming fromt the "hit first, ask questions later school." I thought the rider showed remarkable strength of character after the incident and it is a shame this whole thing has to make it through the courts. Previous poster is correct.
	Posted by: Tara Patrick | December 13, 2006 10:17 AM

Strength of character? Read the Responsibility Code and make determinations from there. I saw my then-six year old daughter get hit as hard as any human on snow I have ever seen. Thought she broke her back. The skier climbed back up and submitted to ID info etc as well as apologizing. A good start - but the Responsibility Code pretty much sums it up. Oh - 2 minutes later, her sister as clipped by a boarder who slowed, looked and left the scene as she was down. Fortunately Ski Patrol were on the scene and she was OK. However, I met up with the boarder at the bottom of the mountain. No apologies - and a partoller pulled his ticket. To any istuatuion involving a collision - alcohol does no good in skiing. Period. Sail on -

Posted by: Bruce W. | February 21, 2007 12:16 PM