2 Injured In Ski Lift Accident Recovering

Two teenage snowboarders who were injured when the double chair they were on fell off a lift at Red Lodge Mountain ski resort in southern Montana have been released from the hospital.

Seventeen-year-olds Andrew Higgins and Austin Wallis were treated and released Wednesday night. Higgins' father, Allen Higgins, says his son is "at home and just sore." Wallis could not be reached for comment.

The Billings teens were about halfway up the Willow Creek lift when the chair separated from the haul line at about 2:15 p.m. Wednesday. The chair towers rise 35 feet above the ground. Mountain manager Jeff Schmidt says an engineer will inspect the lift Friday, and it could reopen Saturday.

He says he thinks wind played a role, noting that 40 mph gusts were recorded on the mountain Wednesday.

Story from Associated Press