Seven people injured after chair lift at world-famous Maine ski resort malfunctions and starts traveling BACKWARD down mountain

  • Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort malfunctioned Saturday morning
  • Began traveling down mountain backward, prompting riders to jump off
  • Seven people were wounded; three were taken to hospital, officials said
  • Riders who were still on-board when lift finally stopped were evacuated
  • U.S. Alpine Championships scheduled to take place at Sugarloaf in days

By Sophie Jane Evans For Dailymail.com

Published: | Updated:

Seven people have been left injured after a chair lift at a Maine ski resort malfunctioned and started traveling down the mountain backward, prompting riders to jump off, officials said on Saturday.

Three people were taken to hospital after the King Pine lift, carrying around 230 people, began operating in reverse at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort in Carrabassett Valley on Saturday morning.

However, none are believed to have suffered life-threatening injuries, resort spokesman Ethan Austin said. Riders who were still on-board when the lift eventually stopped were evacuated.

On Saturday afternoon, David Segre, who was standing in the crowded lift line, described the terrifying moment the machine started traveling backward, picking up speed by the second.

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Wounded: Seven people (some of whom are pictured above) were injured after a chair lift at a Maine ski resort malfunctioned and started traveling down the mountain backward on Saturday

Wounded: Seven people (some of whom are pictured above) have been left injured after a chair lift at a Maine ski resort malfunctioned and started traveling down the mountain backward, prompting riders to jump off

Evacuation: Three people were taken to hospital after the King Pine lift began operating in reverse at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort in Carrabassett Valley. Above, a skier is evacuated from the lift after it stopped

Evacuation: Three people were taken to hospital after the King Pine lift began operating in reverse at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort in Carrabassett Valley on Saturday. Above, a skier is evacuated from the lift after it stopped

Team effort: None of the seven are thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries, a resort spokesman said

Team effort: None of the seven are thought to have suffered life-threatening injuries, a resort spokesman said

'It was really scary. It was like a gear had let loose and it was slowly picking up speed going the wrong way. So all the chairs... they were slipping backward,' said the 42-year-old skier.

'And as gravity works they started to go faster and faster and people were jumping off at the lower levels,' he added, estimating that the lift traveled backward for up to 300 yards before stopping.

Susan Haws Clifford, who was on the lift with her daughter, told WMTW News 8 that it 'started heading backwards really fast', adding: 'We were able to unbind our skis and jump off uninjured.'

But while some skiers close to the ground leaped off the lift, one man who was not able to ended up going around the loading area and heading up the mountain on the other side, Segre said.

Nearly down: On Saturday afternoon, witness David Segre described the terrifying moment the machine started traveling backward, picking up speed by the second. Above, the skier is helped by a resort official

Nearly down: On Saturday afternoon, witness David Segre described the terrifying moment the machine started traveling backward, picking up speed by the second. Above, the skier is helped by a resort official

Scene: People can be seen stuck on the lift after it stopped when a worker pulled an emergency brake

Scene: 'It was really scary. It was like a gear had let loose and it was slowly picking up speed going the wrong way. So all the chairs... they were slipping backward,' he said. Above, people stuck on the lift after it stopped

It is unclear whether the injured riders jumped off the lift, or fell off due to its erratic movements. 

The seven were treated by ski patrol and taken off the mountain for treatment by an emergency medical responder, Austin said. Three of the riders were later transferred to a nearby hospital.

Segre told AP it looked like three or four people were being tended to in the loading area of the lift, adding: 'I think everybody was being very careful not to move them until ski patrol arrived.'

On Saturday afternoon, photos and videos emerged on social media showing terrified riders, who were stranded meters high up in the air, being evacuated from the malfunctioning lift via ropes.

Sugarloaf Mountain Resort: While some skiers close to the ground leaped off the lift (pictured), one man who was not able to ended up going around the loading area and heading up the mountain on the other side

Sugarloaf Mountain Resort: While some skiers close to the ground leaped off the lift (pictured), one man who was not able to ended up going around the loading area and heading up the mountain on the other side

Famous: The U.S. Alpine Championships are due to take place at the famous ski resort (pictured) in a few days

Famous: The U.S. Alpine Championships are due to take place at the famous ski resort (pictured) in a few days

Officials have said the cause of the accident is under investigation. The chairlift, which can transport 2,100 skiers an hour on 122 chairs, receives routine daily inspections for safety, Austin said. 

It remains closed in the wake of the incident, according to ABC 9.

Sugarloaf was the site of another chairlift accident in 2010 in which a 35-year-old lift derailed, causing five chairs to fall to the ground, injuring eight skiers. That lift was replaced in 2011.

The latest incident comes just days before the U.S. Alpine Championships are scheduled to take place at the world-famous ski resort. It will be the fifth time Sugarloaf has hosted the event.

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