Victim of Hit-and-Run Snowboarder Finally Gets Justice

 In February 2024, Anne Cassidy had just unloaded from a lift at Aspen ski area when a snowboarder collided into her hard from behind, causing her serious injuries. She suffered torn ACLs in both of her knees, an MCL tear, a torn meniscus, among other injuries. Unbelievably, the snowboarder fled the scene of the collision and continued down the mountain.

In March of 2024, Cassidy’s attorney used subpoenas to obtain resort surveillance videos from Aspen. Together with social media posts and a photograph from a bystander, Eric Banushi was identified as the hit-and-run snowboarder. The Pitkin County Sheriff’s office investigated and referred the case to the 9^th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Over two years after the collision, a Pitkin County jury convicted Banushi of third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and violating the Colorado Ski Safety Act. He was sentenced to 45 days in jail.

 The prosecutor was direct about why this case led to such a strong conviction, stating that the case moved forward because Banushi did not stay at the scene. Under the Colorado Ski Safety Act, leaving a collision without exchanging information is against the law. Since there is no centralized reporting system for skier-on-skier collisions, criminal charges arising from them are not common in Colorado. Perhaps the biggest takeaway from this incident is the lesson that it leaves behind. If someone collides into you on the mountain, you should immediately obtain photographs, witnesses names, and the other party’s information before anyone leaves the scene.

Have you ever been injured as a result of a ski or snowboard collision? The experienced ski injury attorneys at Bloch Ongert can help you recover the money you are entitled to receive. Call Bloch Ongert today at (970) 926-1700 to speak directly to an attorney.

This information was sourced from Vail Daily. The original article can be found here: https://www.vaildaily.com/news/skier-gets-justice-in-aspen-mountain-hit-and-run-case-2-years-later/