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Skier and snowboarder die at Keystone Resort in Colorado in less than a month

In under two weeks, a skier and a snowboarder have died at Keystone Resort, a popular ski and snowboard area in Colorado's mountains.

The snowboarder crashed on Lower Go Devil, a black diamond run, on Sunday, according to the Summit County Sheriff's Office. That person has been identified as William Marcus Hunnicutt, 32, from Aurora.

Circumstances surrounding the skier's Jan. 7 death on The Grizz are currently under investigation. That skier has been identified as Eric Baltz, 59, from Westminster.

Keystone Ski area
A 2016 Getty Images file photo shows signage near the River Run Gondola at the Keystone Resort. Andy Cross/The Denver Post via Getty Images

On Tuesday, the sheriff's office said it was investigating the death of a snowboarder after the boarder's friend called ski patrol on Monday afternoon. When deputies arrived, ski patrollers were doing CPR on the snowboarder. The man, later identified as Hunnicutt by the Summit County Coroner's Office, was riding with several friends when he crashed.

Investigators don't believe trees, blunt objects, or other people were involved in the crash. The boarder, who was wearing a helmet at the time, crashed and hit the snow "with force," the sheriff's office said.

First responders took Hunnicutt to Keystone Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.

"Every loss of life on our ski slopes is deeply felt in our community," Summit County Sheriff Jaime FitzSimons said in a statement. "We extend our sincere condolences to the snowboarder's loved ones during this difficult time."

Jan. 7

The skier who died earlier this month was later identified as Baltz. 

Other guests at Keystone came upon him that afternoon, did CPR, and called for help. Baltz was also wearing a helmet at the time he was discovered. He was airlifted to St. Anthony Hospital in Frisco, where he was pronounced dead.

"Our hearts go out to the family and friends affected by this tragic loss," FitzSimons said.

Keystone is about 75 miles west of Denver.

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