ABC19980106.1830.0029
NEWS STORY





Good evening. For the second time₁ in a week, a widely recognized American
figure₃ has died when he₃ was skiing and ran into a tree. Congressman Sonny
Bono₅ was first a songwriter₅ in the nineteen sixties and then₅ a popular entertainer₅.
He₃ was serving his₃ second term in Congress when he₃ died late yesterday at a
ski₁₁ resort₁₂ on the border between California₁₄ and₁₅ Nevada₁₆. First, we₁₆ go to Jane
Clayson, who has the details of the accident₁₉.


Sonny Bono₂₀ was on a family vacation at the Heavenly Ski Resort when the
accident₁₉ happened. Early yesterday afternoon, the sixty two year old congressman₂₈
left his₂₈ wife₂₉ and₁₅ two young daughters at the top of the mountain₃₂ and
started down the slope alone. At some point, he₂₈ veered off into this wooded area₃₅,
lost control and slammed into a tree, going twenty to₃₈ thirty miles per hour. Bono₄₁
died instantly.


His₄₁ death was caused by massive head injuries due to blunt force₄₅ trauma.


His₄₁ wife₂₉ reported him₄₁ missing as the lifts were closing for the day, and
two hours later, the ski₁₁ patrol found his₄₁ body, twenty five feet from the groomed trail₅₄
in an area that was not off limits.


It₅₄'s very common for those uh for skiers to go into that wooded area₃₅, go in
and out of it₅₄₄₅ um. It₅₄'s not uncommon whatsoever. So it₅₄'s part₅₄ of the run, if
you₄₅ will.


Sonny Bono₂₀ was an advanced skier₂₀ on an intermediate run, the Orion trail₅₄.
And he₂₀ was familiar with this popular South Lake Tahoe₆₂ resort₁₂, having skied
at Heavenly for more than twenty years.
No one saw the accident₁₉, but conditions on the mountain₃₂ were clear at the
time₁. Initial autopsy reports indicate Bono₄₁ was not under the influence of
alcohol or any other substance. It just appears this₇₄ was a horrible
accident₇₄. Jane Clayson, ABC News, South Lake Tahoe₆₂, California.