Parents Face Felony Charges After Child Falls From Pennsylvania Ski Lift

The parents of a five-year-old boy who fell off a chairlift at Blue Knob Ski Resort, Pennsylvania, are facing felony charges.

Authorities charged the parents with one felony count each of endangering the welfare of a child.

The accident, as reported by the news outlet WTAJ, happened on March 1, 2026. Information shared with the outlet showed that the boy fell 20 feet. 

The 2026 POWDER Photo Annual is here! Look for a print copy on a newsstand near you, or click here to have a copy shipped directly to your front door.

State police were told that the child was alone on the chairlift and later flown to a children’s hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, according to an affidavit of probable cause. The boy was uninjured. The parents said his helmet saved his life.

“We went through that process of finding them these helmets that were fitted to their heads, we did the wobble test, we have like the most industrial helmets,” the boy’s mother told WTAJ in March.

WTAJ reported that troopers said it took 15 minutes for ski area staff to find the boy’s parents after the fall.

According to WTAJ, resort management told troopers that the boy said he fell because he was trying to adjust his goggles. They also told them that the boy’s father said the boy was “able to ride the lift by himself.”

“The lack of direct supervision of a five-year-old child led to this child falling 20 feet from a ski lift to snow-covered ground. Furthermore, it took approximately 15 minutes to locate the child’s parents, who were unaware of the incident at the time,” the affidavit concluded.

Related: Two Utah Ski Resorts Confirm Closing Date as End of Tough Season Nears