10-year-old San Francisco boy seriously injured in collision with Squaw Valley ski team member
OAKLAND, Calif. - A 10-year-old boy from San Francisco broke two vertebrae in his back when a member of the Squaw Valley ski team lost control at high speed and collided with the boy, the boy's father said.
Nolan Chong now has to wear a back brace and deal with potentially life-long back issues, said his father Joseph Chong.
The collision happened on the morning of Dec. 31 on a black diamond slope, which is considered to be among the most challening ski runs.
Chong said two teen members of the Squaw Valley ski team were racing down a hill when one of them collided with Nolan. The 14-year-old ski team member then hit a tree.
Members from the ski patrol at Squaw Valley withnessed the crash and told Chong that ski team members are held to higher safety standards than members of the public.
Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows issued a statement Sunday afternoon addressing concerns that the members of the ski team were acting reckless at the time of the crash.
The ski team member who hit Nolan had his season pass revoked for one week.