A 13-year-old boy, from Anacortes, Washington, died Wednesday morning after crashing into a tree while snowboarding at Mt. Bachelor Ski Resort, according to a press release by the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff deputies, along with Bend Fire and Rescue and AirLink Critical Care Transport, responded around 11:16 am after the boy was reported missing to the resort’s ski patrol. The boy was unresponsive when patrollers found him in a wooded area near the Sunrise chairlift. They initiated lifesaving efforts and transported him to Mt. Bachelor’s medical facility. Despite the efforts of first responders and medical staff, the boy died from his injuries.
While no witnesses to the incident have been identified, investigators believe he collided with a tree while riding about 400 meters uphill from Sunrise Lodge. He was wearing a helmet, DCSO said.
“This is a devastating loss for our community, a family and first responders,” Sheriff Kent van der Kamp said in the release. “Our hearts go out to the boy’s family, friends, first responders and everyone affected by this tragedy today. I am incredibly grateful to the ski patrol and emergency personnel who responded with urgency and compassion.”
The boy’s identity wasn’t released out of respect for his family and the ongoing investigation.
This article appears in The Source Weekly April 3, 2025.
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