In late February 2023, Major Snowstorm A few feet of fresh powder poured over the mountains of Northern California – for many experienced skiers, such as Wesley Whalen’s dream conditions.
Instead, it becomes the worst case scenario.
Whalen, 46, suffocated to death on March 1, 2023 under the deep snow at the Paradise Hill Resort in Tahoe.
His widow said the resort should be blamed on it.
In recent lawsuits, Chanel Whalen claimed that extreme conditions in the sky were more dangerous, failing to warn visitors or increase safety patrols, resulting in the death of her husband, a complaint that it was an “unnecessary, preventable tragedy” ”.
A family portrait by Wesley Whalen, who died when he suffocated in the snow in the Tahoe ski resort.
(Chanel Whale)
The lawsuit was filed last month in El Dorado County Superior Court, for the first time San Francisco Chroniclesclaiming that heaven is the risk of scattered deep snow by triggering an avalanche shortly after the blizzard. The lawsuit says it will “fry” the snow to stimulate a controlled avalanche – a Regular exercises At the ski resort – not only does the amount of powder be increased, but also masks the natural signs of scattered snow by creating the appearance of solid snow.
“Combining this freshly slack powder with almost unheard of precipitation creates a significant increase in cave entrance risk,” the lawsuit said. “Paradise further failed to warn guests of explosions, meaning even skilled and experienced skiing There is no reason for the gutter and skiers to believe that the risk of the sink is the actual height.”
The wrongful death lawsuit alleges the resort was negligent and demanded unspecified damages.
Ashlee Lamber, spokesperson Vail Resorts, Inc.Those who own and operate the paradise declined to comment on the case, saying the company has not commented on the pending lawsuit.
On the day of his death, Whalen was described in the complaint as a “skilled and experienced skier” and was active in the American Association of Deaf Ski and Snowboard. The lawsuit says he was stopping along a black diamond trail when he pulled to the side to stop. The lawyer representing Whalen details what happened after viewing the video of his GoPro-type camera Whalen.
“He started slowly, but always sinking into the snow,” the lawsuit said, “the snow collapsed on him.” “Wesley was buried.”
The lawsuit on the day claimed that the snow “looks loose” and said that “ski patrols are not covered enough.”
The complaint states that after some reports, after his death, Warren was caught in the “The tree is very good“Dangerous dip in deep snow, known to capture skiers and skiers. But the lawsuit says, “If there is such a danger, the lawsuit does not have any warnings about the dangers of tree wells and caves,” the resort should install Temporary fence and warning signs.
National Ski Area Association. The trails skiing increase the risk of deep snow or tree accidents, which can be fatal, warns. But the lawsuit claims that Whalen stopped “in the open trails well” and that his way of dying was not part of the inherent risks associated with snowboarding.
“It’s not inherent to being swallowed by snow, as if sunk on a snowboard,” the lawsuit said.
“Wes is the leader of the deaf community and his wife Chanel is his entire world,” Mike Guasco, the lawyer representing his wife, said in a statement. “His death is The incalculable loss, the community and Chanel are still keen. To make matters worse, his death is completely preventable.”
