A fatal April 14 skiing accident at a popular Wyoming resort was ruled a “homicide” by the county coroner this week, but it’s up to authorities to decide whether it was a crime.
Ski instructor Peter Wirthlin and an unidentified 34-year-old man collided on the slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village.
Both men were seriously injured, and Wirthlin died three days later, on April 17th. The cause of death was intracranial hemorrhage, the coroner told FOX News Digital on Wednesday.
The coroner said Wyoming’s “homicide” designation means a death caused by another person, and it’s up to the sheriff’s office and prosecutors to determine whether a crime was committed.
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Peter Wirthlin, 71, an avid cyclist and ski instructor, was killed in a crash on the slopes of Wyoming. (Jackson Hole News and Guides/Provided Photo)
Wirthlin, 71, was skiing with a group of friends when he was struck by a skier who “mismaneuvered” on the uphill slope, according to Ski News. Obtained from skimag.
The man, who has been a part-time ski instructor at the resort since 1978, was wearing a helmet at the time, but the unidentified man was not wearing a helmet. Snow Brains Reportquoted a statement from Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.
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Both men were rushed to a nearby hospital, but Wirthlin never regained consciousness and his family said he suffered “severe irreversible brain damage.” Byrings Gazette.
The 34-year-old man, whose identity has not been released as he had not been charged as of Wednesday afternoon, was released the same day.
Peter Wirthlin, 71, died in a ski crash at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village, Wyoming. (Jackson Hole Mountain Resort)
The Teton County Sheriff’s Office and county prosecutor will determine whether a crime was committed.
Fox News Digital reached out to both the sheriff’s office and prosecutors, but neither immediately responded.
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The sheriff’s office said April 22 that it was still investigating. Investigators are asking anyone who witnessed the April 14 crash to call detectives. Brett Bomer (307-733-4052)
Wirthlin said she didn’t want to be “a rich American who flew all over the place,” according to a published obituary. Jackson Hole News and Guides.
“I think it was my curiosity that made me a traveler from an early age. I always thought the idea of going by bike was the best way to interact with people,” Wirthlin said in the article. It is reported that.
“If you go slow enough, you can see everything. You don’t go everywhere, but you can see it very close up everywhere you go.”
A ski instructor was murdered at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village, Wyoming. (Jackson Hole Mountain Resort)
After news of his death broke, tributes to the beloved outdoorsman flooded social media, including a Facebook video of Angus Tewearmer on the 2022 Bike Tour of Idaho.
“We will miss Peter, who was killed yesterday when another skier hit him,” Twellmer wrote.
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Ski resort President Mary Kate Buckley said in an emailed statement to Fox News Digital that the resort is “devastated by the loss of a beloved member of our community.”
“This is obviously very sad for the organization and the community, and our hearts go out to the family,” Buckley said.
She reminded skiers that everyone needs to ski with control, adding, “We remain focused on raising awareness of the need for safe skiing and riding.”
