Jack Lindsey, Air Force Cadet, Dies in Keystone Ski Accident

Yesterday, we told you about the death of an eighth grader at Crested Butte ski resort during a school-club ski outing this past Friday. And now comes word of another fatality on the Colorado slopes over the weekend: Eighteen-year-old John "Jack" Lindsey, a Cadet 4th Class at the Air Force Academy, died after a crash at Keystone. Less than a week earlier, Lindsey had changed his Facebook profile photo to a shot of fun on the slopes...at Crested Butte.

See also: Videos: Eighth-Grader Dies at Crested Butte During School Ski Trip

According to a Keystone release cited by the Summit Daily, the incident took place at approximately 2 p.m. Saturday, January 24, at Elk Run, a popular attraction frequently featured on YouTube videos. Here's one look at the tree-lined trail....

...and another....

...and another:

The Colorado Springs Gazette depicts Lindsey, a Louisiana native, as an avid skier. He was at Keystone to take part in Snofest, an event described on its Facebook page as "an annual three day military ski event that takes place around the end of January each year. Enjoy ski and snowboard races, fantastic parties, non-skier events like wine tasting, beer tasting, ice skating, snowshoeing and more!"

Lindsey, who was wearing a helmet at the time of the accident, received assistance from ski patrol members, who transported him to the Keystone Medical Center. But his injuries proved too severe. The Summit County coroner reportedly determined that his cause of death was blunt-force trauma.

The loss is especially shattering given that Lindsey had just embarked on the adventure of a lifetime at the Air Force Academy. This Facebook photo from August....

...is accompanied by a caption that reads: "Being accepted into the Cadet Wing at the United States Air Force Academy is a moment I will remember for the rest of my life."

In a shot from October of Lindsey in his Air Force jumpsuit, his pride is arguably even more apparent:

In announcing Lindsey's death, Academy Superintendent, Lieutenant General Michelle D. Johnson released the following statement: "The Academy is deeply saddened by the loss of one of our own. Our most sincere condolences go out to Jack's family. This tragedy affects not only his family at home, but all of our cadets, staff, and faculty who were fortunate enough to know Jack and were touched by his positive attitude and passion for life."

Our sincere condolences to the friends, family and loved ones of Jack Lindsey.

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.