BRECKENRIDGE, Colo. — An 18-year-old high school student from North Carolina on a senior trip died Tuesday after hitting a tree at Breckenridge Ski Resort, the Summit County coroner said.
Logan Bastedo, of Charlotte, was not wearing a helmet and died of massive internal injuries, Coroner Joanne Richardson said. Bastedo was with the Charlotte Christian School, which arrived in town Monday afternoon.
Tuesday was the group’s first day of skiing.
Witnesses reported the teen was skiing very fast before hitting the tree, Richardson said.
The ski patrol was alerted to the accident at 10:10 a.m., and Bastedo was taken to Breckenridge Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead, resort officials said.
Charlotte Christian School released a statement about the accident on Wednesday.
"Charlotte Christian School is deeply saddened by this terrible accident," Head of School Dr. Leo Orsino said in the statement. "We ask for your prayers and support for the Bastedo family as they go through this painful journey. We also ask for your prayers for the senior class and all of the students and faculty at Charlotte Christian who have been impacted by the Lord’s decision to call Logan home."
The school said the senior trip to the ski resort is an annual event and this year 86 students and nine chaperones went to Colorado. The director of academics and assistant director of spiritual life flew to Colorado Tuesday night in order to meet with the seniors on Wednesday. The school said those officials and the chaperones will counsel the students and determine what to do about the rest of the trip.
Upper School Principal Allen Nielsen said Bastedo had just come to the school last year when his family moved to Charlotte from California.
"He was an extremely gracious and quiet student who came alive on the football field and the wrestling mat," Nielsen said. "We are blessed for the time we had to share his gifts and talents."