Snowmass ski crash leads to instructor filing lawsuit against skier

A local ski instructor sued a Denver-area man earlier this week who allegedly skied into him in February and caused neck and back injuries.

Don Jewkes was instructing five skiers on the Coney Glade run at Snowmass Ski Area on Feb. 18 when Rudolph Brown “blind-sided Mr. Jewkes as he slammed into Mr. Jewkes’ back,” according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday in Pitkin County District Court.

“Defendant did not slow down as he approached Mr. Jewkes,” the lawsuit states. “After the collision, (Brown) told Mr. Jewkes, ‘I did not see you.’”

Jewkes suffered multiple contusions, a sprained MCL “and suffered back as well as neck trauma,” according to the suit.

The lawsuit seeks damages based on the Colorado Skier Safety Act, which requires uphill skiers to avoid downhill skiers.