Skier dies after fall at Pennsylvania resort

ALLENTOWN, PA. >> Officials say a 21-year-old man died after a fall at a ski resort in eastern Pennsylvania, the third death at a ski resort in the area this year.

Blue Mountain spokeswoman Tricia Matsko says the skier fell after going over a snow jump on a beginner’s trail around 6 p.m. Sunday.

The man, whose name hasn’t been released, was pronounced dead at Palmerton Hospital. An autopsy is planned. Matsko says the man wasn’t wearing a helmet.

A week earlier, 80-yearold Rudolf Huber died of complications from injuries sustained in a fall while skiing at Camelback Resort in Tannersville.

DA: Deaths of man, mother in fire last month were homicides

PALMER, PA. >> Authorities say the deaths of a man and his mother in an eastern Pennsylvania fire last month were homicides.

The Northampton County coroner on Monday identified the victims of the early morning Jan. 4 fire in Palmer Township as 97-year-old Virginia Houck and her visiting son, 59-year-old Roger Houck, both found in the basement.

One was bound at the feet and the other had binding around the head. Officials said the man died of “homicidal violence” and the woman of smoke inhalation and burns.

District Attorney John Morganelli said investigators are looking at — and “have been in contact” with — a person in the case, but no charges have been filed.