Skier dies after Highland Bowl accident

Tragedy struck Aspen Highlands on Wednesday after a crash in the bowl resulted in a fatality. 

Clifford Hastings Johnson III died on Wednesday afternoon in the Aspen Valley Hospital due to blunt force trauma from crashing in the Highland Bowl earlier that day, according to the Pitkin County Coroner’s Office. 

Johnson, 76 from Houston, Texas, had a ski accident in the bowl at approximately 11:53 a.m., according to the coroner’s office. Aspen Highlands Patrol saw the accident and immediately contacted CareFlight of the Rockies, at which point he was transferred to the Aspen Valley Hospital Emergency Department via medevac helicopter, where he was treated by the hospital’s trauma team.

The Highland Bowl was closed for the rest of the day, according to SkiCo.

He passed away at 1:37 p.m. due to the severity of his injuries, according to the coroner’s office.

“We can confirm that Hasty Johnson suffered a fall in Highlands Bowl yesterday, Feb. 26. An Aspen Highlands paramedic patroller was on-site and responded immediately,” Aspen Skiing Company said in a prepared statement. “The patroller called in a helicopter for assistance in transportation to Aspen Valley Hospital. Hasty had a long history here in Aspen and will be remembered fondly. Our hearts go out to his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Skyler Stark-Ragsdale can be reached at 970-429-9152 or email him at sstark-ragsdale@aspentimes.com.