Snowboarder charged with manslaughter

friday01

friday01

Active member
A 29-year-old veterinarian from Shrewsbury died last week after a snowboarder slammed into her as she waited for her husband at an agreed-upon meeting spot on the slopes of Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming.

The snowboarder, a 16-year-old whose name was not released by authorities, is facing manslaughter charges. It is not yet known whether he will be prosecuted as a juvenile or as an adult. If convicted as an adult, he could face up to 20 years in prison.

The teenager, who suffered minor injuries, returned to his home in Maryland Saturday, investigators said.

The victim was Heather Donahue, a longtime skier who recently moved from Colorado to her native Massachusetts to complete an emergency medicine internship at the Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine in North Grafton. She suffered massive head injuries in the crash Thursday and died Friday.

Her mother, Nancy Donahue of Chelmsford, said yesterday that her daughter's husband witnessed the crash. But her daughter, she said, ''didn't even see the kid coming.'

''She had just completed a run and was waiting for her husband, talking to some friends,' Nancy Donahue said. ''She was waiting, and this person was out of control and hit her with his snowboard.'

According to the National Ski Areas Association, 41 skiers and snowboarders died in accidents on the slopes nationwide during the 2003-04 season, up from 37 the previous season.

Captain Jim Whalen of the Teton County Sheriff's Office said deaths resulting from skiers colliding on the slopes are very rare, with most fatalities occurring when skiers or snowmobilers hit a tree or take a bad jump.

The crash involving Donahue happened shortly after 11 a.m. Thursday. Donahue was in Wyoming for the week to ski and spend time with her husband's family, her mother said.

According to witness accounts given to investigators, the snowboarder was traveling down the hill at an extremely high rate of speed when he struck Donahue near the lower portion of Laramie Bowl, an intermediate slope.

The snowboarder didn't appear to try to avoid Donahue, even though there was space to do so, the witnesses said.

The impact broke the snowboard in two and sent both Donahue and the snowboarder sliding about 30 feet down the mountain, investigators said.

Donahue immediately lost consciousness. Her spleen was operated on at a local hospital to stabilize her, and she was transported to Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center, where she died Friday.

A memorial service for Donahue is planned for Saturday in Meredith, N.H.

The elder of two daughters, Donahue was raised in Chelmsford and graduated from Colgate University and Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, her mother said.

She had planned to specialize in emergency medicine after completing her internship in June and had just started applying for jobs.

''She was beginning her life,' said Nancy Donahue.

-They make it sound like the snowboarder did it on purpose but i dont think anyone it stupid enough to do that. I think its bullshit thats hes getting charged with manslaughter

 
unfortenitly an accident, hard to charge someone with that on the slopes.. last time i cheked a snowboard wasnt a deadly weapon

 
well it did say that witnesses saw that he didnt try to stop. But he must've been goin pretty fast to have broken the board in two on her.

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Chris

Have a JIBARITO!

Guitaring for life

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yeah but its still a hard thing to do, accidents do happen.. jus look atthe grl who died from snow tubing after hours at Killington a few days ago

 
It should depend on if she was in a blind area and if the snowboarder was in control or not.

-Matt Hollman
-Formerly ~Public-Enemy~
 
Well when you're driving wrecklessly and you kill people you get charged with manslaughter. I don't see the real difference if you're skiing out of control and do the same. The fact is you killed someone and it was because you were out of control 'a choice you made' so yeah, I think it's legit

We pay our debt sometimes.
 
Yeh it all depends on if he was in control or not. Either way its tragic to hear. And I am sorry for the family and for the lady, also i feel bad for the boarder who has to deal witht he guilt of taking someones life even if unintentional.

 
i think manslaughter might be a little over board but he should defiently be charged.

their are way too many cases of people only paying attention to themselves and nothing else and they end up seriously hurting other people.

accident or not you should always be aware of your surrounding's and their should not be any reason why a collision could not have been avoided.

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check it. i grew up a fuckin screw up, got introduced to the game, got a ounce, and fuckin blew up.
 
omg, 'the witnessess said that he had room to dodge her, but they were too busy itching the sand in their vaginas...' jeeze man, they do act like that.

'WHAT THE WTF?!?!!?' -Armada420

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YEa but in a car u make the choice to speed up and go out of control. On a board or skis a begginer may loose control on accident. Not to say he isnt still at fault but still 20 years is harsh!!

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Skiing isn't a matte rof life and death. IT's much more important than that!

'Live simply so others can simply live'-Ghandi
 
it sounds doubtful that he would not try to stop at all...

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'thats what the internet is for: slandering others anonymously'- jay and silent bob strike back
 
ya basically the same thing happened at my mountain a couple years back. This snowboarding was just bootin it down the run, he was going pretty damn fast and popped off a lip. Cleared like 30 feet or something and hit a kid I think. Well the edge of the board sliced this kid's side open and other shit. I forget wat he was charged with, it was heavy.

SMILE, its the second best thing you can do with ur mouth
 
I am scared sometimes of Gapers behind rollers. Seriously it is dangerous and ski partollers should do more about that

The smart man does not know everything, rather the smart man admits when he knows nothing.
 
she should have been wearing a helmet

roles royce is a car to be driven in, bentley is a car to drive

saying that something is so hot right now is so hot right now
 
that is my english teacher's sister....fuckn crazy. she told us she had to leave school early cause her sister isn't doin good...

Poniverus CO.

www.poniverus.com

poniverus@yahoo.com
 
Here's to hoping that woman wasn't standing on the backside of a blind knoll or anywhere where she couldn't be seen from above.

If we all remember our alpine responsibility code, it does state that you should not stop where you are not visible from above.

None of this matters anyways, the poor kid is fucked. Snowboarder vs. skier? Fucked.

young vs old? Fucked. Add to that the undeniable fact that he hit her, and yet again, he's fucked. Even if she wasn't visible from above, making this incident NOT young snowboarder's fault.

Bahahaha... or, you could call it the 'elitist snob' cult. Anyways, my family already owns a country club, so no thanks.

J.D. May
 
One life was taken because of an ACCIDENT; why take another.. why ruin his life by throwing him in jail for 20 years and with that on his record. That is not going to help him.

I guess I don't know enough about it, but that's my opinion
http://www.kpvi.com/index.cfm?page=nbcheadlines.cfm&ID=24320

SNOWBOARDER CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER

Feb 28, 2005

A snowboarder is charged with manslaughter after he slammed into a skier at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.

Witnesses say 28-year-old Heather Donahue of Massachusetts was skiing slowly on a slope on Thursday when a 16-year-old snowboarder collided with her. Witnesses say the boy was going very fast and that he had enough time to turn but didn't. The teen was wearing a helmet and had only minor injuries. Donahue suffered internal injuries and major head trauma and died Friday. The juvenile was from Maryland and flew home on Saturday.

The Teton County Wyoming Sheriff's Office says it's not been determined whether he will be tried as a juvenile or an adult.

 
wow thats sooooo lame...i was just there and my friend saw it happen...by no means should this kid go to jail...the tragic thought of knowing you killed someone will haunt that kid for the rest of his life.....it would be the worst thing ever to put that kid in jail for an accident which he will forever feel terrible about

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witty cent is now live on stage!
 
urchinn thats so stupid how u said 'well it depends if he was outta control or not'... thats complete bull shit how hes getting charge with that bullshit, out of control or not thats retarted. I feel bad for both familys, but to say he did it on for a reason is out of this world.

We're all chasing the dream
 
so I guess snowboarding is a crime afterall.. it really sucks that someone died but it was an accident and the kid is 16, charging him with manslaughter is simply rediclous.

CTC - we dope!
 
yeah how do you snap a bored in half unless it is a crappy wal mart board. Which would explain him out of control. But look at it like this one less person we have to look out for

Line
 
there are to many snowboarders that are out of control. i have gotten hit in the lift line like 5 times.

 
wow, just imagine if u were that snowboarder right now. How absolutely awful youd feel. I wouldnt be suprised if he killed himself

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Wow... Dave really needs to stop hitting people on that rut jump.

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Current Reigning NS Idiot: ''teddy i guess you also thing that Area-51 doesnt exist either then... how do you explain the alien autopsy's and the Unknown aircraft that crashed in roswel.''-SxMarty6, Member # 41216
 
not trying to sound like an asshole but hopefully the guilt alone will ruin if not durastically affect the rest of his life, how would u feel if u killed someone id be worried about my own mental state rather than what they were charging me with...but thats just me

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'so basically i lost my penis trying to have sex with my cat' Misty7

'Who's not 18 yet? What? LA LA LA LA LA LA! I can't hear you.'~Jay aka rebel

 
It sucks to hear people are dying up on the hills. Can you imagine dying skiing. Shit.

Anyways I thought I would add my comments on how i feel on this subject:

I can see how an accident like this can happen. Yes the snowboarder was going fast. yes, this lady was probably stopped in a blind spot on the hill. yes, she probably wasn't wearing a helmet.

This kid that collided with her probably isn't all at fault her. Accidents do happen

 
have a little respect. someone was killed and none of you know the details. someone please delete this thread before it gets even worse. and a helmet can't protect your spleen, genuises.

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i'm not an alcoholic - i'm a drunk - alcoholics go to meetings
 
Oh no, someone's dead, quick, everyone, stop using your brain and start feeling bad for someone who may or may not be at least partly responsible. Was she wearing a helmet? Cuz that woulda probably helped the massive head trauma. Was she on the backside of a blind knoll? Maybe, I don't know, I wasn't there.

Death doesn't excuse stupid behaviour on the slopes. You're responsible for your own actions, and the consequences that follow them. If you don't take care of yourself out there, no one else will.

Bahahaha... or, you could call it the 'elitist snob' cult. Anyways, my family already owns a country club, so no thanks.

J.D. May
 
so this kid goes to jail for 20 years because he made one stupid little mistake/accident. Imagine if you were that kid, you rlife is ruined because you caught an edge or lost contorl one day. I dont see what is being sovled by ruining this kid's life. It's not like he isn't going to be careful in the future after having killed a girl.

-Michael Lifshitz-
dfp
Jibberishradical
www.absoluteskishop.com
 
Anybody who says this was somehow partly her fault because she wasn't wearing a helmet is a fucking prick, bottom line. Just because your mommy makes you wear one doesn't mean everyone has to.

I don't own a helmet, even if I did, I probably wouldn't wear it if I was skiing groomers with my family, like it sounds like she was. It sounds like he saw her from a distance, and hit her from behind. This kid was out of control, he killed someone, and he needs to pay for it. Feeling bad is not a punishment for something like this. We wouldn't be having this conversation if he was driving and ran over this lady on the sidewalk or something.

 
Shit kiddies, wake up and smell the coffee! Look at the back of your ticket or actually read the skier safety shit (as gay as that might sound.) if you're uphill, you have to be in control, that is, be able fucking stop. I'm not saying that you should have somebody ski down and clear every little roller and hit like my dad would suggest, that just takes the fun out of skiing, but crap, use some judgement.

As far as this whole manslaughter thing, it sounds drastic but there'd have to be a whole change in what's considered manslaughter. Oh, and to the little shit up there who said something about 'yah, but in a car u have the decison to spede up or not.' pull your head out of your prepubescent ass. you dont decide whether or not you straightline something or turn?

And just so conservatives don't take it to heart
I don't think Bush did it cause he isn't that smart.

_Immortal Technique
 
hmmmm... on second thought, that sounded a little harsh. sorry SmokinSkier, I can't sleep right now and i'm pissed.

also, as shitty of a way to die as this is, somebody up there said it would suck to die skiing. I couldn't think of a better way to die, but i'd rather go out getting carried over a 600 ft cliff in an avalanche rather than getting blindsided while stoppin on a groomer.

And just so conservatives don't take it to heart
I don't think Bush did it cause he isn't that smart.

_Immortal Technique
 
FUCK THAT SHIT! if i hit some bitch im gunna fucking ski my ass away fast. that is so stupid to charge the kid with anything it was just a fucking accident and that shit happens the kid is probably gunna be bumed for the rest of his life just that he killed the bitch... that shuld be enough

smoke dank

PC
 
She should have been wearing a helmet. She should have at least done that. I mean it says she was going into emergency medicine...

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'Aren't you Buzz Lightyear?'

*whispers* 'I love your movies!'

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^ fuck, another one. What is not getting through to you buddy? So everyone has to wear a helmet now to protect themselves from out of control snowboarders? In a just world this out of control snowboarder idiot would be the one in the morgue right now, not this lady. She was out takin some laps with her family, but it's her fault because she didn't anticipate getting creamed by some out of control gaper going mach 10 down a blue run.

But, like the other guy said, I too am a little cranky cause I can't sleep.

But really, think about what you're saying, this whole 'she should have been wearing a helmet' thing makes me pissed. Clearly a bunch of little kids on here saying this stuff. Helmets have only been real common on the hill for a few years kids. The fact she wasn't wearing one doesn't change the situation.

 
Gomer - Getting swept over the cliff in an avy would really be the more embarassing way to go, cause then you were the on that fucked up and skiied the line you shouldn't have. At least getting creamed by a gaper isn't your fault, and people won't shake their heads at your funeral and be like 'What was he thinking skiing that line in those conditions...'

- just a late night thought

 
^You really care about what other people think when it comes to skiing, huh? Personally, I'd rather they shake their heads and think I'm an idiot... but better dying skiing an insane line. I can't think of many better ways to die, actually.

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Current Reigning NS Idiot: ''teddy i guess you also thing that Area-51 doesnt exist either then... how do you explain the alien autopsy's and the Unknown aircraft that crashed in roswel.''-SxMarty6, Member # 41216
 
Regardless of the circumstances or anything else, I sincerely believe that there is no way anybody should be charged with manslaughter for something like this. Ruining someone's life over a stupid accident? Where the fuck does society get off doing that?

Hunter S Thompson RIP 1939-2005

My heroes don't appear on no stamps.

Our greatest glory consists not in never falling. But in rising every time we fall.

 
And I agree with JibThis, although you've missed his point; it's not that she should or shouldn't have been wearing a helmet, it's that just because she happened to die from this doesn't mean she wasn't partially or mostly at fault. If she was standing below a ridge where she couldn't be seen, it's her fault. I've hit or nearly hit dozens of people who make sudden turns into my path, or stop in stupid places or situations, and many of those were not my fault. If you want to participate in a sport like this, you need to be aware, because if you're not, you're an idiot, no matter whose fault the accident that will almost inevitably result is.

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Current Reigning NS Idiot: ''teddy i guess you also thing that Area-51 doesnt exist either then... how do you explain the alien autopsy's and the Unknown aircraft that crashed in roswel.''-SxMarty6, Member # 41216
 
I understand and KNOW it was not her fault at all nor could she have avoided it but there is some truth in the be alert and prepared.

Say you r driving down the freeway and you are slammed by another car sure its not your fault but in many cases you could have done something to counteract their stupidity.

So on the slopes y not use the same theory. You dont expect an acident but be ready for one. Kinda like an Avy beaker u dont hope to need its just there. BE AWARE!! IF I am standing still on any run of any difficuty i asume i am in the way or in danger.

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Skiing isn't a matte rof life and death. IT's much more important than that!

'Live simply so others can simply live'-Ghandi
 
okay ..i just looked up State Drunk Driving Laws as of July 2003 and in Wyoming. 'Aggravated vehicular homicide by DUI' is no more than 20 years. There is no fine and his license would be revoked for 1 year.

Is it really fair for a Drunk Driver who kills someone to have the same punishment as a kid who gets into an accident skiing?

Don't get me wrong. I wouldn't be suprised if he wasn't thinking about anyone else and was out of control. I think he should be punished (maybe with thousands of hours of community service or something), but not the same as a DUI

 
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