NH teen dies in after-hours sledding crash at Sunday River

NEWRY, Maine — An 18-year-old male is dead, and a 17-year-old male is suffering serious injury, after an ill-advised, after-hours sledding excursion on a ski trail at Maine's Sunday River resort, officials said.

Spokeswoman Darcy Lambert said the crash was reported around 2 a.m. Wednesday.

According to the Oxford county Sheriff's Office, three teens were using an inflatable tube-style sled on the Tempest Trail. The two victims were on the tube together when they slid off the trail and hit a tree.

David Kohlhase was killed and 17-year-old Max Milila is in the hospital with serious injuries.

The Kohlhase family spokesman Patrick Dennehy released the following statement:

"The family is at a loss for words right now. Way too young to go. He was an incredibly intelligent and a good kid. Just like his father, he was an avid and talented bluefin tuna fisherman and was well on his way to getting his captains license. His friends remained by his side trying to resuscitate him the whole time!" 

Sledding is not allowed on ski trails, and the mountain was closed at the time.

Lambert said it was her understanding that the family owns a condo on the mountain, which isn’t managed by Sunday River. A 911 call was made and the sheriff responded with Bethel and Newry fire crews.

The three were sledding on the Tempest Trail, which is steeper than most sledding hills. Part of it is rated as a black diamond for expert skiers, and part is rated as a blue for intermediate skiers.

The Portsmouth Superintendent of Schools sent Boston 25 News the following statement:

"This morning I received some terrible news about a tragic accident that occurred yesterday at Sunday River, Maine involving two former…. students who attend Portsmouth High School. David Kohlhase was killed in a sledding accident and Max Milila is in critical condition up at Sunday River."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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