CARRABASSETT VALLEY – A 24-year-old New Hampshire man was flown to the hospital after he skied into a tree Saturday afternoon at Sugarloaf ski resort and suffered a head injury, police said.

Nicholas Jones of Bedford, N.H., was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, where he underwent surgery Saturday, said Carrabassett Valley Police Lt. Randy Walker. Contacted Sunday about Jones’ condition, a hospital spokeswoman declined to comment.

The incident came shortly after the first skier death at the mountain this winter. A Canadian man who was visiting Sugarloaf with his wife and two children died Thursday after he skied into a tree.

Jones apparently caught a ski edge in the snow on an intermediate-level trail and veered off into the trees, suffering a head injury, Walker said.

Friends discovered him unconscious in the snow along the King’s Landing trail around noon, Walker said. Jones was not wearing a helmet.

Ski patrol transported Jones down the mountain in a toboggan, taking him to the Sugarloaf First Aid Clinic near the base lodge, Walker said

Paramedics from NorthStar Ambulance took over Jones’ care once he arrived at the clinic, where he was conscious and responsive, Walker said.

Jones was taken by ambulance to a landing site at the Kingfield fire station, where he was transferred to the helicopter, Walker said. Kingfield is about 15 miles from the resort.

Morning Sentinel Staff Writer David Robinson can be contacted at 861-9287 or at:

drobinson@centralmaine.com