Westminster Skier Dies at Keystone Resort; Death Cause Under Investigation
A tragic incident occurred at Keystone Resort in Summit County, where a skier lost his life. The skier, identified as 59-year-old Eric Baltz from Westminster, was discovered unresponsive on Wednesday. He was found on The Grizz, a challenging black diamond run in the resort’s Outback area.
Details of the Incident
Other guests on the slopes noticed Baltz and immediately attempted CPR. Keystone Ski Patrol swiftly responded and provided advanced life-saving measures. Baltz was then transported to a nearby landing zone before being airlifted to CommonSpirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
Key Facts
- Name: Eric Baltz
- Age: 59
- Residence: Westminster
- Location of Incident: Keystone Resort, Summit County
- Run Type: Black diamond (The Grizz)
- Response: CPR initiated by guests, advanced measures by Ski Patrol
- Destination Hospital: CommonSpirit St. Anthony Summit Hospital
Investigation and Cause of Death
Authorities confirmed that Baltz was wearing a helmet at the time of the incident. However, details regarding the circumstances of his death remain unclear. It is also unknown whether he was skiing alone.
Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons expressed condolences, stating, “Our hearts go out to the family and friends affected by this tragic loss.”
The Summit County Coroner’s Office is conducting an autopsy to determine the official cause of death. This process typically takes four to six weeks for all tests to be completed. Recent ski seasons in Colorado have seen over a dozen fatalities, often linked to medical incidents or accidents resulting from falls.
