Chairlift derails; two youths hurt

Two teenage boys were injured and one remained in the hospital Tuesday after they fell from a chairlift when it derailed at 49 Degrees North ski resort last weekend.

It was unclear how the chair became derailed Saturday, but owner John Eminger said the lift has remained closed, awaiting inspection by engineers. Three other lifts remain open.

“We’re not a great big ski area, so when something like this happens we take it very seriously,” he said.

Chairs can come loose from lifts by either mechanical or human error, Eminger said. A part could come loose, though he said early inspections could not find any problems with the lift. Chairs also can come loose from the towers when riders bounce or swing the chairs, he said.

The chair was rebuilt two years ago and didn’t see any action last year because of lackluster snowfall.

The two boys fell about 1 p.m. and were taken by helicopter to a hospital. Their identities were being withheld. One left the hospital Saturday, but another was still there Tuesday, Eminger said. The extent of their injuries was unknown.