Jury awards $3.2 million in damages to family of 12-year-old boy injured after falling off Wachusett Mountain ski lift
Alex Hache, now 17, suffered a severe concussion and fractured five vertebrae and his pelvis, according to his attorney.
A Middlesex Superior Court jury awarded over $3.2 million to the family of a Hudson boy, who was seriously injured after falling off a ski lift five years ago at Wachusett Mountain Ski Area when he was 12 years old, his attorney said Tuesday.
The jury returned a verdict in favor of the family of Alex Hache, now 17, on July 18 following a five-day trial and two days of deliberations, Jeffrey Raphaelson, an attorney representing Hache, told Boston.com.
Although Raphaelson recommended a verdict between $4 million and $6 million, he said he considers the $3,275,000 judgment fair. The Princeton ski company’s lawyers recommended a $700,000 finding.
On March 8, 2015, Hache boarded the high-speed Polar Express lift — which services the summit and advanced terrain ski trails — with three other people, but inadvertently sat on an arm of the bench, according to the lawsuit.
He quickly slipped out of the seat as the riders ascended, with his body turning “so that his back was to the mountain and his legs were under the chair as the chair moved through the load area,” a motion filed in the lawsuit states.
Others shouted to have the lift stopped as Hache grabbed hold of another passenger, but the machine continued to move.
“Shortly after Alex hit a snow gun Wachusett negligently left underneath the chair lift, the other chair riders lost their hold on Alex and he fell,” the motion says.
Hache fell about 30 feet to the ground after hanging from the lift for over three minutes, according to Raphaelson.
“He suffered some significant injuries, including a severe concussion that he’s working hard to manage the after affects of, and he suffered five fractured vertebrae and a fractured pelvis,” Raphaelson said Tuesday.
Hache will likely have permanent back discomfort and stiffness, he said, adding Hache has some difficulty running and performing more strenuous exercises.
In a statement Tuesday, Wachusett Mountain said it takes guest safety very seriously and conducted an investigation with witnesses, staff, and the state Recreational Tramway Board after the incident.
“As a result of the investigation and a review of our internal policies and procedures, Wachusett intends to strive for a 100% Bar Down Policy,” the statement says. “We will work with skiers and boarders on ski lift safety to endeavor that all persons ride the lift with the restraining bar down.”
The company added, “We wish (Hache) the best and hope that he continues to enjoy a healthy and productive life.”
According to court filings, the Hache family was awarded $3 million for pain and suffering and $275,000 for loss of earning capacity.
