Ten-year-old girl killed in ski accident

Devastation.

That’s how residents of a southwestern Alberta town are describing Tuesday’s death of a Grade 6 Pincher Creek student — killed after losing control on a ski hill during a school-sanctioned field trip.

Just after 11:30 a.m., emergency crews were called to Castle Mountain Resort — 45 kilometres west of Pincher Creek — for reports of a 10-year-old girl who collided with a pole while skiing.

The girl, whom police said was wearing a helmet, sustained serious head injuries in the crash.

As poor weather conditions ruled out transport via STARS Air Ambulance, the girl was rushed to Alberta Children’s Hospital in Calgary via ground ambulance, where she later died.

A news release issued by the Livingstone Range School Division said the girl, whose name is being withheld by police, was a Grade 6 student at Canyon Elementary School in Pincher Creek.

“The Canyon School Community is devastated by this loss,” school principal Paul Pichurski said in a statement.

“We send our heartfelt condolences to the family.”

Canyon School’s website shows Tuesday ’s Grade 5 and 6 ski/snowboard/snowshoe trip had originally been scheduled for Feb. 8, but was cancelled due to poor road conditions.

The trip was part of the school’s ongoing ski program, which had previously visited Castle Mountain on Feb. 1.

According to school newsletters, students participating in the program are required to take lessons on each of the program days.

Pincher Creek RCMP are assisting the Alberta medical examiner in the investigation into the crash.

Crisis counsellors were dispatched to the school to provide support for students and community members, and assistance will be provided to students from other schools who were at the ski resort at the time of the crash.

Pincher Creek is about 240 km south of Calgary