Aspen Highlands – Basalt native Dave Turner died two days after hitting a tree in an Aspen Highlands ski accident on Jan. 5.
According to an email from Aspen Skiing on Wednesday, at 12:56 p.m. on Jan. 3, ski patrol received a call that Turner, 70, had left the runway and entered a tree at the bottom of Why Not, where the runway Intersects Oly runway Co. He is not wearing a helmet.
According to the statement: Ski patrol arrived on scene within four minutes and found Turner unresponsive. Advanced Rescue was activated and vital signs were re-established before taking him to an ambulance at the foot of the hill.
The cause of death was blunt force trauma, the Pitkin County coroner’s office said in an email Wednesday. He died in Grand Junction.
A statement from Skico officials to the Buttermilk team called Turner a “good friend and Buttermilk Ski Pro colleague.”
Turner, who joined the Buttermilk team last year, is a PSIA Alpine Level 2 certified ski instructor. According to the statement, he recently retired as a practicing attorney to pursue his lifelong passion for technical rock climbing, mountaineering, hiking, mountain biking, backcountry skiing, alpine skiing and helping people learn to ski.
“This is a tragic loss and we are deeply saddened. Our thoughts are with David’s family and friends,” the Skico official said.
Created an online memorial page for him on Ever Loved, where friends and family shared photos and fond memories of Turner. He has been described as an advocate for Front Range climbing, a website that asks visitors to consider donating to the Flatirons Climbing Committee, of which he has been a member for many years. The page also asks people to consider donating to the Access Fund or Doctors Without Borders USA in lieu of flowers.
“The image I’ve been holding on to for the last week is Dave on the dance floor. He’s amazing and I was there to witness the energy and enthusiasm he brings to the things and people he loves,” Judith A recollection by Judith Kalb.
Another recollection by Ted Lanzano reads: “Dave always had a way of making everyone happy and welcome. He was so thoughtful and kind and wise. We really need more like People like Dave!”
Turner is survived by his wife of 40 years, Nancy, and grown daughters Stephanie and May.
“The Turner family would like to thank the Highland Ski Area Ski Patrol and the other medical staff in Aspen and Grand Junction who took care of Dave,” the family wrote in an email Wednesday.
This story comes from AspenTimes.com.
