A 26-year-old former collegiate ski racer died in a crash at Palisades Tahoe on Sunday, April 6. Ellie Curtis, who was an Alpine Ski team captain at Dartmouth College and had moved to San Francisco, California, suffered fatal head injuries after she rode the iconic KT-22 chairlift to access the resort’s “Ahhh Chute” trail.
Curtis was riding with friends at Palisades on Sunday when the accident occurred at approximately 3:45 p.m., according to a statement from Palisades Tahoe. A ski patroller responded to the scene within two minutes. According to Matt Lorelli of Powder, who witnessed the accident along with a group of about 10 other people, a full emergency response team arrived on the scene shortly after and provided medical care on site, but she succumbed to a fatal head injury.
“Ahhh Chute” is a steep, north-facing run at Palisades that is lined with rocks, which is part of why the area of the resort is known as “Rock Garden.”
“Ellie was a valued member of the CPUC, and she will be deeply missed. She came to the CPUC to protect the environment she cared about so deeply and was very excited about starting her career here. Our hearts go out to her family, friends, colleagues, and all who were touched by her kindness,” a spokesperson for the California Public Utilities Commission, whom Curtis worked for, told KRON4 News.
Ellie’s passing is the fourth skiing fatality in the Tahoe area this season and fifth overall in the Sierra Nevada range.
