19-year-old dies after skateboard accident

A recent Aspen High School graduate died Sunday after being injured in a skateboarding accident Saturday night.

Robby Wade, 19, was pronounced dead at 4 p.m. at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction. He was a member of the AHS class of 2002 and the son of Ute Mountaineer owner Bob Wade.

Wade was critically injured around 10:30 p.m. while skateboarding near the Lazy Glen subdivision with three friends. The friends were taking turns skating down a long, winding driveway located directly across Highway 82 from the subdivision, said Pitkin County Sheriff’s Deputy Mario Strobl. All four were using three-foot “longboards,” adapted for downhill skating, as opposed to regular-sized equipment, Strobl said.

The boys had taken several turns down the driveway, Strobl said, and Wade apparently lost control of his skateboard during a final run. Wade was not able to stop as he reached the end of the driveway and skidded onto the highway.

Wade avoided being hit by oncoming traffic, but was thrown from his board.

“He landed on his head and suffered severe injuries,” Strobl said.

Wade and his skating companions were not wearing helmets, Strobl said.

Deputy Michael Ferrara arrived at the scene “within seven minutes of the initial call,” Strobl said, but Wade was not breathing. Emergency personnel transported him to Aspen Valley Hospital.

Wade was admitted to the AVH emergency room just after 11:30 p.m. Saturday. He was airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital around 1:15 a.m. Sunday.

St. Mary’s spokesman Jeff Kurtland said Wade was pronounced dead Sunday afternoon, but was unable to list his injuries.