The Shockwave, White Heat, and Obsession trails at Sunday River ski resort in Newry, Maine. (Nick Lambert/Courtesy Sunday River)
A New Hampshire high school student was killed and another was seriously injured early Wednesday when the sled they were riding during an after-hours excursion at a Maine ski resort crashed into a tree.
Oxford County Chief Deputy Hart Daley said three teens sneaked into the Sunday River resort while it was closed and two of them were riding an inflatable tube down the trails when the crash occurred at around 2 a.m.
Resort spokeswoman Darcy Lambert said the three were sliding on the Tempest Trail, which is steeper than most sledding hills. Part of it is rated for expert skiers, and part is rated for intermediate skiers.
Sledding is not allowed on ski trails at the resort, and only mechanized grooming equipment is allowed on trails so late at night.
Portsmouth High School Principal Mary Lyons identified the victim as 18-year-old David Kohlhase and said another student was hospitalized. Police say the third person called for help.
David Kohlhase (Facebook)
Lyons described Kohlhase as "a beloved member of our school community," and said a crisis team would be available Thursday when students returned from a snow day.
Lambert said the teens are presumed to have hiked up to the resort from a condominium owned by one of their families.
Daley said an investigation was continuing.
When asked whether alcohol was a factor, he said: "It could be weeks before we receive lab results, but when we do, that information will be released."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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