Man killed in fall from Heavenly chairlift

A 51-year-old man from Glendora, Calif., died after falling from a chairlift at Heavenly Mountain Resort on Monday afternoon and his newlywed wife was injured in the incident, authorities said.

Mark Alan Dickson fell about 50 feet from the Tamarack Express chairlift about 1:50 p.m., according to reports from Heavenly and the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office.

The incident remained under investigation, but an apparent malfunction of the Heavenly Flyer ZipRider caused a rope from the zip line to become entangled with the chairlift, said El Dorado County Sheriff's Lt. Les Lovell. The rope apparently caught the chair's safety bar and pulled it open, Lovell said.

Dickson fell from the chair onto dirt and rocks, Lovell said. Initital reports that the woman also fell from the chair were inaccurate, Lovell said.

The woman, 47-year-old Rebecca Gonzaga, suffered a leg injury and was taken to Barton Memorial Hospital for treatment. Her injuries were not considered life-threatening.

The couple, who were on their honeymoon, planned to make South Lake Tahoe their home, Lovell said.

Heavenly Mountain Resort spokesman Russ Pecoraro said ski patrol personnel were in the area at the time of the incident and responded immediately to provide medical aid.

The man was transported to Heavenly's California lodge first aid station, where he was pronounced dead about 3:15 p.m.

Pecoraro said the Heavenly Flyer was operating within its allowable wind conditions on Monday afternoon.

Four other guests on the lift at the time were evacuated.

Lovell said the sheriff's office is investigating the incident. But all indications as of Monday afternoon were that the event was an accident.