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CARRABASSETT VALLEY, Maine (AP) — Officials at a Maine ski area report that there are about eight injuries in an accident on a chair lift.
Sugarloaf spokesman Ethan Austin told The Associated Press that Tuesday's accident was "a big deal." He says one of the ski lifts derailed and five chairs came down.
The resort says on its Facebook page that most of the injuries appear to be minor. Austin says the ski patrol is evacuating the lift.
A spokeswoman for Franklin Memorial Hospital about 45 minutes away in Farmington says at least two injured people are en route by ambulance.
Gray says it's possible more injured people could arrive because it's the closest hospital.
The Blaze update:
CNN was able to interview a CNN employee, via cellphone, who was one of the people trapped on the lift:
CNN:
[Update 11:58 a.m.] Rescuers were swiftly bringing stranded skiers down from a broken-down chairlift at western Maine's Sugarloaf Mountain resort, CNN Newsource employee Robb Atkinson said."It's incredibly organized. They know what they're doing," Atkinson said while still suspended 30 to 40 feet above the ground. "They're moving incredibly fast."
The accident occurred on the resort's Spillway East slope, which runs all the way to the top of the mountain, Maureen Atkinson said.
[Update 11:40 a.m.] Five stranded skiers have been evacuated from the chairlift that broke down Tuesday at Sugarloaf Mountain, Maine, CNN Newsource employee Robb Atkinson said.
Officials with the ski resort said it would take 60 to 90 minutes to rescue all the trapped skiers.
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