Devastating Fall Claims Life of 32-Year-Old Donovan Romero at Colorado Ski Resort — Grieving Mother Demands Chairlift Safety Reform to Prevent More Tragedies

Littleton, CO — A Colorado mother is turning her unimaginable grief into a call for reform after the tragic death of her 32-year-old son, Donovan Romero, who suffered a traumatic brain injury from a devastating fall off a chairlift at Keystone Ski Resort and later died after months in hospice care.

Tonette Romero, Donovan’s mother, is publicly speaking out for the first time since her son’s death, describing the past few months as “absolute hell” as she watched her once-adventurous, loving son slowly fade away after the December accident.

“I want to see that this doesn’t happen to any other family,” she said, her voice marked by equal parts heartbreak and determination.

A Tragic Fall and a Long Goodbye

The accident occurred in December 2024, when Donovan Romero, a father of two and avid snowboarder known for his passion for the mountains, fell 47 feet from a chairlift. According to reports, the chairlift’s restraint bar had not been lowered at the time of the fall, a common but optional safety measure at many ski resorts. Romero was wearing a helmet, but the fall resulted in a catastrophic traumatic brain injury.

Doctors initially gave him little chance of survival.

“They didn’t expect him to make it through the night, but he did,” said his mother. “He did, and he pushed through for the next five months.”

Romero was eventually moved to hospice care at home, where his mother and family cared for him around the clock until his death on Friday, May 2. Tonette was with him when he passed away.

“As a mom, you don’t ever want your child to feel lonely,” she said tearfully. “I wanted to make sure he would know it’s OK to go.”

A Mother’s Mission: Safety Reform

Now, Romero is focused on making sure Donovan’s death isn’t in vain. She’s calling for stricter safety protocols on ski chairlifts across Colorado, beginning with making restraint bar usage mandatory.

She was shocked to learn that in Colorado, passengers are responsible for lowering the safety bar themselves, a task often neglected or overlooked. In Donovan’s case, no staff ensured the bar was lowered before the lift took off.

“It’s one small step,” she said. “If you’re not going to enforce the use of a safety bar, why do you have the safety bar?”

Romero wants ski resorts to either require lift operators to ensure the bars are used—or better yet, install automatic restraints that engage without user input. “It’s a simple, easy fix,” she said. “In the long run, if it saves one person, why couldn’t you do that?”

Current Chairlift Safety Standards

Colorado’s chairlift regulations fall under the Ski Safety Act, which does not currently mandate the use of safety bars. While national safety standards from 2017 onward require that all new or relocated chairlifts include restraint bars, there is no requirement that passengers use them, nor are operators responsible for enforcement.

Many ski lifts in Colorado remain older models where bar usage is optional, and oversight varies by resort.

The lack of a universal standard frustrates Romero, who believes that a legislative update could prevent further tragedy. She’s now reaching out to lawmakers and ski safety organizations to explore what changes can be made—whether through policy, training, or technology.

A Life Remembered

Donovan Romero’s life was marked by adventure, resilience, and love for his children and the outdoors. His death has rocked the local snow sports community, prompting conversations about lift safety practices and the need to better protect skiers and snowboarders.

Friends, fellow snowboarders, and former colleagues at Keystone Ski Resort have expressed condolences and shared tributes online, remembering Romero not only for his skill on the slopes but for his warmth and kindness off them.

“He was fearless, always smiling, and the kind of guy you’d want on your team,” one friend wrote.

A Mother’s Promise

As she mourns her son, Tonette Romero remains committed to preventing future tragedies. She’s hopeful that by raising awareness and pushing for change, Donovan’s story can help protect others.

“I don’t want any other mother to go through what I’ve been through,” she said. “This wasn’t just an accident—it was something that could have been prevented.”

A memorial fund has been set up in Donovan’s name to support his children and to help advocate for ski lift safety legislation. His legacy, his mother hopes, will be one of change, courage, and compassion.

“He fought so hard to stay with us,” Tonette said. “Now I’ll fight for him.”