ABC19980106.1830.0029
NEWS STORY₀





Good evening. For the second time₁ in a week, a widely recognized American
figure has died when he₀ was skiing and ran into a tree₄. Congressman Sonny
Bono₀ was first a songwriter in the nineteen sixties and then a popular entertainer.
He₀ was serving his₀ second term in Congress₀ when he₀ died late₁₀ yesterday₁₀ at a
ski₁₁ resort₁₂ on the border between California and₁₅ Nevada. First, we₁₅ go to Jane
Clayson, who has the details of the accident₁₉.


Sonny Bono₂₀ was on a family vacation at the Heavenly Ski₁₁ Resort₁₂ when the
accident₁₉ happened. Early₁₀ yesterday afternoon, the sixty two year old congressman
left his₀ wife₂₆ and₁₅ two young daughters at the top of the mountain₂₉ and
started down the slope₂₉ alone. At some point, he₀ veered off into this wooded area₃₁,
lost control and slammed into a tree₄, going twenty to₃₃ thirty miles per hour. Bono₃₆
died instantly.


His₀ death was caused by massive head₃₈ injuries due to blunt force trauma.


His₀ wife₂₆ reported him₀ missing as the lifts were closing for the day₄₃, and
two hours later₄₅, the ski₁₁ patrol₄₃ found his₀ body, twenty five feet from the groomed trail₄₈
in an area₃₁ that was not off limits.


It₄₅'s very common for those uh for skiers to go into that wooded area₃₁, go in
and out of it₄₅₃₈ um. It₄₅'s not uncommon whatsoever. So it₄₅'s part of the run₅₃, if
you₃₈ will.


Sonny Bono₂₀ was an advanced skier on an intermediate run₅₃, the Orion₅₅ trail₄₈.
And he₀ was familiar with this popular South Lake Tahoe₅₅ resort₁₂, having skied
at Heavenly for more than twenty years.
No one saw the accident₁₉, but conditions on the mountain₂₉ were clear at the
time₁. Initial autopsy reports indicate Bono₃₆ was not under the influence of
alcohol or any other substance. It just appears this was a horrible
accident₁₉. Jane Clayson₆₈, ABC News₆₈, South Lake Tahoe₆₈, California₆₉.