PORTLAND (AP) — An investigation into the death of a Canadian skier who crashed into a tree at the Sugarloaf resort and then died on the way to a hospital has concluded that he received quality medical care and that disciplinary action isn’t warranted against any of the emergency responders.
Maine Emergency Medical Services on Wednesday released a five-page report of its investigation into the Jan. 12 death of 41-year-old David Morse of Harmony, Nova Scotia.
The investigation was initiated after Morse’s wife complained that he wasn’t provided proper medical care. She also said the ambulance crew dropped her off on the side of a road and abandoned her while en route to the hospital.
Investigators interviewed a dozen people, reviewed medical and emergency response reports and listened to audio recordings from the hospital and the sheriff ’s department, said Jay Bradshaw, the emergency agency’s director.
“The conclusion was the care that was provided was high-quality care and consistent with EMS protocols,” Bradshaw said. “Obviously, the awful part of this was there was a skier who died. It was a tragic accident.”
The Morses and their two children were on vacation at Sugarloaf, the state’s tallest ski mountain, when David Morse caught an edge on his skis and struck a tree on a beginner trail. Morse, an intermediate skier who was wearing a helmet, died of chest trauma while the ambulance was taking him to Franklin Memorial Hospital in Farmington, 45 minutes away from Sugarloaf.
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