{"id":2121916,"date":"2026-09-01T07:35:57","date_gmt":"2026-09-01T04:35:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2121916"},"modified":"2026-09-01T07:35:57","modified_gmt":"2026-09-01T04:35:57","slug":"hit-and-run-snowboarder-sentenced-to-45-days-more-than-2-years-after-causing-collision-at-aspen-mountain-co","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2121916","title":{"rendered":"Hit-and-Run Snowboarder Sentenced to 45 Days More Than 2 Years After Causing Collision at Aspen Mountain, CO"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content\">\n<div class=\"mceTemp\"><\/div>\n<figure id=\"attachment_364854\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-364854\" style=\"width: 1920px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-364854 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAGrAQMAAABqgLQIAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADhJREFUeNrtwTEBAAAAwqD1T+1tB6AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADgDIcbAAEnbF1FAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC\" alt=\"Powder day, Silver Queen Gondola skiing at Aspen Mountain. Athlete: Mike Poleto. Photo Credit: Jordan Curet\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/24-25_ASCSkiing_003.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/24-25_ASCSkiing_003.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/24-25_ASCSkiing_003.jpg?resize=300%2C200&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/24-25_ASCSkiing_003.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/24-25_ASCSkiing_003.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/24-25_ASCSkiing_003.jpg?resize=1536%2C1024&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/24-25_ASCSkiing_003.jpg?resize=600%2C400&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/24-25_ASCSkiing_003.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w\" data-max-width=\"640\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"427\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-364854\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/24-25_ASCSkiing_003.jpg?resize=640%2C427&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Powder day, Silver Queen Gondola skiing at Aspen Mountain. Athlete: Mike Poleto. Photo Credit: Jordan Curet\" width=\"640\" height=\"427\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-364854\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Powder day below the Silver Queen Gondola at Aspen Mountain. | Image: Jordan Curet<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-1\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_1 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>A snowboarder who fled the scene after seriously injuring a skier on Aspen Mountain, Colorado, in 2024 has been sentenced to 45 days in jail.<\/strong> Eric \u201cRiku\u201d Banushi was convicted by a Pitkin County jury on Friday, August 28, 2026 of third-degree assault, reckless endangerment, and violating the Colorado Ski Safety Act following the February 2024 collision \u2014 an unusually severe outcome for what began as a skier-on-skier crash.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <em><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/aspen-mountain-hit-and-run-crimnal-case-court-hearing\/\">Snowboarder in Hit &amp; Run Case in Aspen Mountain, CO, Offered Plea Deal<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Banushi struck Aspen local Anne Cassidy from behind near the Gent\u2019s Ridge lift, then continued down the mountain without stopping to exchange information or check on her, a violation of the Colorado Ski Safety Act\u2019s hit-and-run provisions.<\/strong> Cassidy had just unloaded from the lift when she felt a jolt from behind that caused her knees to \u201ccrumble like a lawn chair,\u201d according to court documents. She suffered ACL tears in both knees, an MCL tear, a medial root injury, and torn meniscus in her right knee, plus injuries to her shoulder and right hand \u2014 injuries serious enough to sideline her from skiing, tennis, mountain biking, and hiking for two years. \u201cThe collision upended my life and my family\u2019s life for two years,\u201d Cassidy told <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aspentimes.com\/news\/skier-gets-justice-in-aspen-mountain-hit-and-run-case-2-years-later\/?fbclid=IwY2xjawUDUsZwZG9mA2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzQzNzYyNjMxNjk3Mzc4OAABHnDGbfiw4rkzUSswykT3PB90CwHVVrHINPklyDz0nvOJetieoOkr6xSu7iBZ_aem_k1eRnU-KEqrM1NxaT5goGQ\">The Aspen Times<\/a>.<\/em> \u201cEvery part of my athleticism has been impacted.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><span class=\"s1\">Cassidy had been stopped on the side of the slope at the time, talking to her friend<\/span> Katy Frisch when the incident occurred.<\/strong> Frisch skate-skied after the perpetrator and confronted him while a bystander, who is not associated with Ms Cassidy, also approached Banushi. After Banushi threatened the unidentified eyewitness with physical assault, they captured footage of the snowboarder and reported him to Ski Patrol. Initially, Cassidy\u2019s attorney Michael Fox filed a lawsuit in Pitkin County against an unknown perpetrator. Fox subpoenaed video surveillance from SkiCo, asking the lift operating company at Aspen Mountain to turn over all the video surveillance around the Silver Queen Gondola from February 24, taken between 11:30 a.m. and 12:08 p.m. Due to \u201cSkier ID\u201d technology on Aspen\u2019s ski passes, the identity of the snowboarder could be confirmed from the surveillance footage. Banushi\u2019s own social media posts from the day also confirmed his identity as the perpetrator. The Pitkin County Sheriff\u2019s Office then took up the criminal investigation, and the 9th Judicial District Attorney\u2019s Office filed charges.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Related: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/snowboarder-identified-through-social-media-account-as-alleged-hit-run-perpetrator-in-aspen-co\/\"><em><strong>Snowboarder Identified Through Social Media Account as Alleged Hit-and-Run Perpetrator at Aspen Mountain, CO<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_373553\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-373553\" style=\"width: 968px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-373553 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAHHAQMAAAAVtnspAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADpJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20PBxQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAANwaj\/cAAeIh8\/IAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"455\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_1148.jpg?resize=640%2C455&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_1148.jpg?w=968&amp;ssl=1 968w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_1148.jpg?resize=300%2C213&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_1148.jpg?resize=768%2C546&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_1148.jpg?resize=600%2C426&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-max-width=\"640\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"455\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-373553\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_1148.jpg?resize=640%2C455&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"455\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-373553\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">The footage from the Silver Queen gondola showed the snowboarder in question and ski pass data identified him as Eric Banushi. | Image: Ross Investigators<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><strong>The criminal case against Banushi took nearly two years to reach trial.<\/strong> Prosecutors filed charges in September 2024, but the case stalled when Banushi failed to appear for a scheduled court date that November, prompting a warrant for his arrest. The warrant was later dropped after he finally appeared in court in May. Prosecutors offered him a plea agreement on September 9, and a Pitkin County judge set an October 22 hearing for Banushi to decide whether to accept it or take the case to trial. He ultimately rejected the deal, and the case proceeded to trial, where the jury convicted him on all three charges.<\/p>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-15\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<div class=\"sb-trending-widget\">\n<div class=\"sb-trending-header\">\n            <span class=\"sb-trending-icon\">\ud83d\udd25<\/span><br \/>\n            <span class=\"sb-trending-label\">Trending on SnowBrains<\/span>\n        <\/div>\n<ol class=\"sb-trending-list\">\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/skier-seriously-injured-after-reported-cliff-fall-near-new-zealands-treble-cone\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Skier Injured in Cliff Fall Near Treble Cone, NZ\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/treble-cone-powder.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/treble-cone-powder.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Skier Injured in Cliff Fall Near Treble Cone, NZ\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">1<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Skier Injured in Cliff Fall Near Treble Cone, NZ<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/forest-service-issues-official-notice-of-intent-opening-30-day-comment-period-on-roadless-rule-rewrite-where-and-how-to-submit-a-comment-to-protect-public-lands\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"Roadless Rule Rewrite: 30-Day Comment Period Open\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/logging-road_canva-stock-1.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/logging-road_canva-stock-1.jpeg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Roadless Rule Rewrite: 30-Day Comment Period Open\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">2<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Roadless Rule Rewrite: 30-Day Comment Period Open<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a href=\"https:\/\/snowbrains.com\/denver-west-express-rail-proposal\/?utm_source=trending_widget&amp;utm_medium=internal&amp;utm_campaign=trending\" class=\"sb-trending-link\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-thumb\">\n                        <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAFAAAABAAQMAAAC3CWJ1AAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAA9JREFUKM9jYBgFo2DoAgACwAABuG9msgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\" alt=\"97 Minutes from DIA to Avon? Inside the Denver West Express Rail Proposal\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/I-70-Looking_Southeast_edited.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/I-70-Looking_Southeast_edited.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"97 Minutes from DIA to Avon? Inside the Denver West Express Rail Proposal\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">3<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">97 Minutes from DIA to Avon? 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class=\"lazyload\" data-eio-rwidth=\"80\" data-eio-rheight=\"64\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/20.06.26_Thredbo_Dusting_2J2A1827_BF-2.jpg?resize=200%2C125&amp;ssl=1\" alt=\"Thredbo to Replace Gunbarrel With New Six-Seat Chairlift in 2028\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"80\" height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">4<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Thredbo to Replace Gunbarrel With New Six-Seat Chairlift in 2028<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<li class=\"sb-trending-item\">\n                <a 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height=\"64\" data-eio=\"l\">\n                    <\/div>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-text\">\n                        <span class=\"sb-trending-num\">5<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sb-trending-right\">\n                            <span class=\"sb-trending-title\">Mountaineer Dies After Fall on Matterhorn<span class=\"sb-trending-arrow\"> \u2192<\/span><\/span>\n                        <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>                <\/a>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ol><\/div>\n<p>    .sb-trending-widget {<br \/>\n        background: #f8f8f8;<br \/>\n        border-top: 2px solid #e0e0e0;<br \/>\n        border-left: 4px solid #ea2e49;<br \/>\n        border-radius: 0 4px 4px 0;<br \/>\n        margin: 28px 0;<br \/>\n        padding: 14px 14px 6px;<br \/>\n        width: 100%;<br \/>\n        box-sizing: border-box;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-header {<br \/>\n        display: flex;<br \/>\n        align-items: center;<br \/>\n        gap: 8px;<br \/>\n        margin-bottom: 12px;<br 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22px;<br \/>\n        flex-shrink: 0;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-right {<br \/>\n        flex: 1;<br \/>\n        min-width: 0;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-title {<br \/>\n        font-size: 14px;<br \/>\n        font-weight: 500;<br \/>\n        color: #1a1a1a;<br \/>\n        line-height: 1.45;<br \/>\n        text-align: left;<br \/>\n        transition: color 0.15s;<br \/>\n        display: inline;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-arrow {<br \/>\n        font-size: 14px;<br \/>\n        color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n        font-weight: 700;<br \/>\n        white-space: nowrap;<br \/>\n        display: inline;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-link:hover .sb-trending-title {<br \/>\n        color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n    }<br \/>\n    .sb-trending-link:active .sb-trending-title {<br \/>\n        color: #ea2e49;<br \/>\n    }<\/p><\/div>\n<p><strong>Sheriff Michael Buglione called the outcome rare, noting that criminal consequences for ski collisions are uncommon.<\/strong> District Attorney Megan Machak said what set this case apart wasn\u2019t the collision itself, but Banushi leaving the scene. \u201cThe Pitkin County Sheriff\u2019s Office, when they reviewed the case, saw that it was a violation of the Ski Hit and Run Act, but it was also reckless endangerment and assault because of the defendant\u2019s reckless actions on the mountain that day,\u201d she said. Banushi\u2019s attorney, William Palmer, declined to comment on the verdict.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Part of the reason prosecutions like this remain rare is structural: there\u2019s no centralized database tracking skier-on-skier collisions the way there is for car accidents, making it difficult to know how often they happen or how often they\u2019re prosecuted, Fox explained.<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_316424\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-316424\" style=\"width: 696px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-316424 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAJjAQMAAACm0zJMAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAAEZJREFUeNrtwQENAAAAwqD3T20PBxQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHBowVMAAd3r7coAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"611\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_7207-e1716260807144.jpg?resize=640%2C611&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_7207-e1716260807144.jpg?w=696&amp;ssl=1 696w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_7207-e1716260807144.jpg?resize=300%2C287&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_7207-e1716260807144.jpg?resize=600%2C573&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-max-width=\"640\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"611\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-316424\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/IMG_7207-e1716260807144.jpg?resize=640%2C611&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"611\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-316424\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Screengrab from Eric Banushi\u2019s Instagram Reels. | Image: Eric Banushi Instagram<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"code-block code-block-2\" style=\"margin: 8px auto;text-align: center;display: block;clear: both\">\n<!-- GAM 71161633\/SNWBR_snowbrains\/article_hrec_2 --><\/p>\n<div data-fuse=\"article_hrec_2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><strong>Cassidy, who returned to skiing on a limited basis last winter, said she plans to keep working with Colorado lawmakers to strengthen skier-safety laws and increase consequences for people who flee collisions, ski beyond their ability, or ski under the influence.<\/strong> She credited her family, friends, lawyer, the jurors, and the judge for seeing the case through.\u00a0\u201cIf you are incapable of maintaining safety on the mountain and you truly can\u2019t stop, you shouldn\u2019t be putting other people\u2019s lives at risk for your fun day on the mountain,\u201d Machak said. \u201cIf you are reckless on a mountain, there are real consequences if you hurt someone.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_373378\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-373378\" style=\"width: 1179px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-373378 lazyload\" src=\"image\/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAoAAAAF7AQMAAAB4vqgnAAAABlBMVEUAAAD\/\/\/+l2Z\/dAAAAAXRSTlMAQObYZgAAAAlwSFlzAAAOxAAADsQBlSsOGwAAADRJREFUeNrtwQEBAAAAgiD\/r25IQAEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAwLUBd+sAASKF95sAAAAASUVORK5CYII=\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"379\" data-src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Silver-Queen.jpg?resize=640%2C379&amp;ssl=1\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Silver-Queen.jpg?w=1179&amp;ssl=1 1179w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Silver-Queen.jpg?resize=300%2C178&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Silver-Queen.jpg?resize=768%2C455&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Silver-Queen.jpg?resize=600%2C356&amp;ssl=1 600w\" data-max-width=\"640\" data-sizes=\"auto\" data-eio-rwidth=\"640\" data-eio-rheight=\"379\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-recalc-dims=\"1\" class=\"size-full wp-image-373378\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/snowbrains.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Silver-Queen.jpg?resize=640%2C379&amp;ssl=1\" alt width=\"640\" height=\"379\" data-eio=\"l\"><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-373378\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Map of where incident happened near the bottom of Silver Queen Gondola at Aspen Mountain. | Image: Aspen Mountain<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><!-- CONTENT END 1 -->\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Powder day below the Silver Queen Gondola at Aspen Mountain. | Image: Jordan Curet A snowboarder who fled the scene after seriously injuring a skier on Aspen Mountain, Colorado, in 2024 has been sentenced to 45 days in jail. Eric \u201cRiku\u201d Banushi was convicted by a Pitkin County jury on Friday, August 28, 2026 of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,267],"class_list":["post-2121916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-snowbrains-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2121916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2121916"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2121916\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2121916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2121916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2121916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}