By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. March 9, 2026
An 8-year-old boy was seriously injured Sunday afternoon after falling approximately 30 feet from a chairlift at Sierra-at-Tahoe Resort, prompting an emergency response that included a medical helicopter and multiple rescue agencies.
The incident occurred around 1:20 p.m. on March 8 on the Grandview Express chairlift near the lift’s upper terminal, according to resort officials. Ski patrol responded immediately after the fall and provided first aid before transporting the child to the resort’s Marmot Landing Zone.
Because of the boy’s age and the distance of the fall, emergency responders requested air transport. Paramedics from the Lake Valley Fire Protection District arrived at the resort base area at the same time as a helicopter from CALSTAR.
The helicopter, identified as CALSTAR 6, airlifted the child to Renown Regional Medical Center for treatment.
“The safety and well-being of our guests is our highest priority,” a spokesperson for Sierra-at-Tahoe said in a statement Monday. “Our ski patrol responded immediately, and we are cooperating with emergency responders as the incident is reviewed.”
Following the accident, the Grandview Express lift was placed on hold for approximately one hour while emergency crews treated the child and coordinated the evacuation.
As of Monday afternoon, March 9, officials had not released details about the boy’s condition or the specific nature of his injuries.
Resort officials said the exact circumstances surrounding the fall remain under investigation. It is not yet clear how the child came off the chairlift, and no additional details have been provided.
Sierra-at-Tahoe, located in the Sierra Nevada south of Lake Tahoe, is a popular winter recreation destination that draws thousands of skiers and snowboarders each season from across Northern California, including visitors from El Dorado County.
