2 teens killed in sledding accident on halfpipe at Copper Mountain Ski Resort

Two teenagers were killed on Sunday night in a sledding accident at Copper Mountain ski resort in Colorado. Deputies with the Summit County Sheriff's Office rushed to the ski area about 8:35 p.m. Sunday.

The two teenagers, a 17- and 18-year-old from Prairie Central High School in Illinois, were on a spring break vacation when they rode tandem down the halfpipe and launched off a large snowbank at the bottom of the halfpipe. 

The teens were riding a single plastic sled, which is not allowed on Copper Mountain runs. This was also after the resort had closed their areas. The boy's school district has released the names of the two young men involved, asking for people to keep their families in their prayers. The Summit County Coroner has yet to release their names from the death investigation. 

They came down hard on the ice below which caused blunt-force trauma. According to the Summit County Sheriff's Office, they could not be revived despite immediate medical attention and were pronounced deceased. The teens have been identified as Dylan Bazzell and Drew Fehr.

"Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and friends of the individuals involved in this tragic incident," said Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons.

"The entire team at Copper Mountain is deeply saddened by this tragic incident," said Dustin Lyman, Copper Mountain's president and general manager, in a statement. "Our most sincere condolences go out to the affected families and friends. We are also thankful to our local emergency responders, for their quick response and the medical assistance provided." 

The investigation continues and the Summit County Coroner's Office will continue to determine the cause and manner of death.

The resort also added that safety is their top priority, and that "we'd ask our guests to please observe posted signs and warnings and not enter closed trails and areas."

Mountain Newsroom Reporter Spencer Wilson asked if it's possible this was a part of a bigger trend surrounding tourism, both with more people in the county accounting for the larger potential for an accident, as well with more people less aware how to recreate safely up in the mountains.  

"It's a combination of both, absolutely both," FitzSimons said. "As we get more people it is going to happen more, unfortunately. This was a tragic incident that happened last night that affected a community in the Midwest, it will be forever a dark place in their hearts."

Copper Mountain is about 78 miles west of Denver.