Investigators have ruled the death of a skier a homicide. The skier died after another skier collided with them in Wyoming.
Speaking with People, The Teton County Coroner ruled Peter Wuerslin’s death a homicide. He died on April 17. An unnamed skier ran into Wuerslin while at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Jacksonhole, Wyoming.
The incident happened at 10 a.m. on the Rendezvous Trail at JHMR in Teton Village. Teton County Sheriff’s Office has been investigating the incident. Wuerslin was 71-years-old.
A part-time ski instructor, he was with a group of friends. An unidentified skier went uphill colliding with Wuerslin and severely injuring him. Though he was wearing a helmet, Wuerslin’s injuries proved to be too severe.
So why is investigators pursuing Wuerslin’s death as a homicide? Well, according to reports, the unidentified skilled failed to maneuver around Wuerslin hitting him straight on. Apparently, there’s enough here to rule that Wuerslin’s death was a homicide. It’s a very rare occurrence for a ski crash to be ruled a homicide.
Skier Died After Crash
However, the unidentified skier also was injured in the crash. Emergency responders took both to the urgent care clinic. However, their journeys split here. The unidentified skier was well enough to go home. Meanwhile, emergency responders transferred Wuerslin to the hospital where he later needed life support.
Wuerslin had “severe brain damage that is irreversible.” Sadly, the skier “never regained consciousness” after the crash. After his death, tributes appeared in his honor.
“All of us at JHMR are devastated to have lost a beloved member of our community and a long-tenured instructor in our Mountain Sports School,” JHMR President Mary Kate Buckley said in a statement to Buckrail. “Our thoughts are with the family, friends, our employees and community members who are grieving this loss.”
Meanwhile, JHMR’s Risk and Safety Director Jon Bishop, told the site, “These incidents unfortunately continue to be an occurrence for skiers. It is your duty as an uphill skier to avoid those below you. We ask that everyone ski in a safe and respectful manner.”
Currently, authorities are still investigating the collision. According to the coroner, Wuerslin died from intracranial hemorrhage. The coroner didn’t go into more detail on what killed