UPDATED - Skier Dies In Chairlift Incident At Red Lodge Mountain

A Billings man has died from injuries he suffered after falling from a ski lift at Red Lodge Mountain.

The Yellowstone County Coroner's Office identified the man as 37-year-old Jeffrey Neil Zinne. The coroner's office said the cause of death was accidental blunt force injury and he was pronounced dead at 1:16 a.m. Wednesday. The mountain's patrol dispatch received the call of the incident at 11:51 a.m. and responded immediately, according to Troy Hawks, a Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson.

According to Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson Troy Hawks.he man was riding alone in a three-person chair that carries skiers up the mountain when he fell from an unspecified height,  The accident happened Monday just before noon at the ski area southeast of Billings in the Beartooth Mountains. Hawks added that the Triple Chairlift, which is almost a mile (1.6 kilometers) long and was built in 1983, was operating within safety parameters. It will remain shut down until an engineer fully assesses it.

On the morning of the accident, some other chairlifts at Red Lodge Mountain were not operating because of high winds. Wind gusts of about 50 mph (80.4 kph) were recorded in the area shortly before and after the accident, according to the National Weather Service.

The resort has issued a statement saying:

“To our Red Lodge Mountain Community,

“Yesterday was an unfortunate day at Red Lodge Mountain as a guest was injured as the result of a chair lift incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the guest and his friends and family, and all guests and employees impacted by this incident.

“We place a top priority on the safety of all of our lifts and lift operations, and perform daily, weekly, monthly, and annual safety measures to better ensure the safe operation of our lifts. The Triple Chair will remain closed this morning as we continue to investigate the incident and will reopen only when we can ensure the continued safe operation of the lift.

“Today we will operate the Stache Express and Palisades as well as the Magic Carpet and Sun Kid conveyor lifts for a reduced daily lift ticket price. Today’s lift tickets are only available at the ticket window.”

A follow up explaijs the nature of the accident"

"On behalf of the Red Lodge Mountain team, we would like to send our most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Zinne, and to everyone impacted by the tragedy that occurred on Monday. A tragedy of this magnitude affects our entire community on a deeply human level.

"We are working in collaboration with the US Forest Service, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office, and Iron Mountain Engineering, an independent professional lift inspector, to understand how this tragedy occurred. We want to assure you that we are committed to a rigorous and thorough investigation and share what we currently know.

"After an initial inspection of the Triple Chair this week, independently conducted inspections suggest the damage to the lift was caused by an unexpectedly strong wind gust, causing an unusually aggressive derailment and as a result, Mr. Zinne's injuries.

"Chairlift safety is a top priority, and something we take incredibly seriously. Until the lift assessment is complete, the lift is repaired, tested and evaluated again by inspectors and regulatory agencies, it will remain closed. Currently, there is no estimate as to when the Triple Chair will reopen.

"Unrelated to the Triple Chair incident, the Willow Creek chair continues to be closed for maintenance. We are optimistic that it will reopen soon, however once maintenance has been completed, it will also undergo a full inspection before reopening as part of our standard operating procedure.

"In the meantime, limited lift and terrain access is currently available at Red Lodge Mountain, and a reduced daily lift ticket will be available until more terrain is on the schedule.

"We anticipate having more information to share in the coming days. Thank you for your patience and understanding."

A Gofundme page has been set up saying:

“On Monday, March 10, 2025, Jeff was involved in a tragic accident while snowboarding. Jeff was life-flighted to Billings, where he peacefully passed away on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. This unexpected loss has left his family, friends, and all who knew him heartbroken and in disbelief.

“Jeff was a devoted husband to his loving wife, Meghan, and a caring father to his 2-year-old son. His passion for life, infectious laughter, and kind-hearted nature touched everyone around him. He was a man who always put others first, whether it was supporting his family, being there for his friends, or bringing joy to those lucky enough to spend time with him. Jeff and his wife were also devoted local business owners of Montana Air Cartage.”