Ski Lift Malfunction At Pennsylvania Resort Causes Chairs To Crash

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BOALSBURG, Pa. (AP/KDKA) - Several people were injured at a central Pennsylvania resort when chairs on a ski lift slid into each other Saturday morning.

It happened around 10 a.m. at Tussey Mountain ski resort in Centre County.

According to a press release from the resort, a chair on a ski lift slipped on the haul rope and slid backwards into the chair behind it. The slip caused a domino effect, and a total of five chairs crashed into each other.

The lift was stopped and the skiers and snowboarders on the lift were evacuated.

State College police Lt. Bradley Smail said he believed more than 50 people were stranded and it took more than an hour to get everyone down. He said five had minor injuries.

According to the resort, the equipment that malfunctioned was tested and given a passing grade by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry's Bureau of Occupational and Industrial Safety Elevator Division.

"However we have begun taking the necessary steps to ensure a situation like this will never happen again," the resort said in a release. "We have contacted the manufacturer of the lift to diagnose what caused the malfunction, as well as the appropriate state agencies prior to re-opening."

Tussey Mountain opened for the season Saturday.

(© Copyright 2017 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)