JACKSON HOLE, WY – An unfortunate ski accident resulting in the death of a ski instructor at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Wyoming, has been declared a homicide. The deceased, Peter Wuerslin, 71, succumbed to his injuries on April 17th following a collision with a younger skier on April 14th, according to the Teton County Coroner’s statement.
The unfortunate incident occurred around 10 a.m. on the resort’s Rendezvous Trail, as reported by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office. At the time, Wuerslin, also a part-time ski instructor, was off duty and enjoying his time with his peers.
Reports confirmed that the collision was instigated by the unidentified 34-year-old skier who descended from uphill. The skier lacked head protection during the accident, contrary to Wuerslin, who was wearing a helmet.
The ski industry magazine, Ski, highlighted that the unidentified skier residing in Jackson Hole “failed to maneuver” around Wuerslin, leading to the tragic collision. Following the incident, both men were immediately transported to the St. John’s Urgent Care Clinic in Teton Village.
Wuerslin’s grave condition led to his transfer to the Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center. He remained unconscious on life support due to severe, irreversible brain damage. Unfortunately, he never regained consciousness post-collision, according to Jackson Hole News & Guide.
The coroner’s report affirms Wuerslin’s reason for death as an intracranial hemorrhage arising from the ski collision, ruling the incident as a homicide. This is quite unusual as the practice is to class ski-accident deaths as accidents rather than homicide.
Wuerslin had been an integral part of the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort’s community since 1978, where he worked as a seasonal ski instructor. Echoing everyone’s sentiments, JHMR’s President, Mary Kate Buckley, stated that Wuerslin’s loss deeply saddened the community, which also extends their condolences to the bereaved family.
The investigation surrounding the fatal collision remains ongoing, as confirmed by the Teton County Sheriff’s Office.