Colorado Ski Resort Says Boy’s Negligence Caused Slide Death

Vail Resorts Inc. says a teen’s own negligence caused his death in an avalanche last year in an inbounds but closed area of Vail Mountain in Colorado.

The Vail Daily reports the comment came in a court document the company filed Monday in response to a negligence lawsuit that 13-year-old Taft Conlin‘s parents filed against it.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says that on Jan. 22, 2012, the boy and other skiers entered the lower Prima Cornice trail through an open gate. An entrance to the top of the trail was blocked. Vail Resorts says Taft climbed from the lower trail area to the upper area before the avalanche was triggered.

The family’s lawyer contends anyone can climb up the mountain and that negligence by Vail Resorts caused Taft’s death.