SAM Magazine --- Jackson Hole, Wyo., Mar. 1, 2005 --- A 16-year-old snowboarder was charged with manslaughter Feb. 25 following a fatal collision with a 28-year-old woman at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, according to published reports.

According to the Teton County Sheriff's Office, the crash occurred just after 11 a.m. Feb. 24 near the bottom of Laramie Bowl, an intermediate run on the upper part of Rendezvous Mountain. The snowboarder was moving very fast and hit the woman, who was skiing slowly, witnesses said. The snowboarder made no attempt to avoid the skier even though there was ample room to do so, witnesses said.

The woman, who was not wearing a helmet, immediately lost consciousness. She suffered numerous internal injuries, and a significant head injury which was cited as the preliminary cause of death, according to the sheriff's office.

The snowboarder, who was wearing a helmet, had only minor injuries. He was charged with manslaughter under Section B of the state statute for "involuntarily but recklessly" killing someone and also charged with reckless endangerment. The manslaughter charge carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment; endangerment carries a maximum one-year jail penalty.

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