SMR employee dies in accident

SANDPOINT — A Schweitzer Mountain Resort employee was killed in an ATV accident early Saturday morning.

The name of the male employee is being withheld pending notification of family members. An investigation into the accident, which happened shortly after 8 a.m., is ongoing by the Bonner County Sheriff's Office.

The first-season employee was conducting routine maintenance on the mountain at the time of the accident, according to Schweitzer spokesperson Jennifer Ekstrom.

The employee was wearing safety equipment required by the resort at the time of the accident. No details were available on what type of maintenance the employee was doing or where on the mountain the accident took place.

Fellow employees and friends of the victim are devastated by news of the accident, Ekstrom said.

"Our hearts go out to the family and we are all very, very sad about the situation that occurred," she said.