Denver, CO : Victim in Snowmass bike crash identified on Monday, July 3, 2017

The 67-year-old man who died Monday after crashing his mountain bike while descending the Valhalla trail at Snowmass Ski Area has been identified as David Duff of Chavies, Kentucky. The Pitkin County Coroner’s Office released his identity on Tuesday.

The cause of death was from a neck fracture sustained after falling from his bike and the manner was accidental, according to a statement from coroner Eric Hansen.

According to an Aspen Journalism story from 2013, “A snapshot of the top of Aspen’s luxury real estate market,” Duff purchased a 10,500-square-foot McLain Flats Road property that sat on six acres for $15 million.

“Buyer David Duff is the second-generation owner of a Kentucky coal mining company,” the article noted. According to an internet search, Duff was recently the president of Red Rock Enterprises in Chavies and previously owned Pine Branch Coal.

On Monday, a guest alerted the Snowmass patrol of an unresponsive man on the Valhalla trail at about 1:30 p.m. and patrol arrived to find CPR was already in progress. Valhalla is an intermediate/advanced trail known for table-top jumps, banked corners and other obstacles. Most users ride the Elk Camp Gondola to the top of the 1,400-vertical-foot downhill trail.

“Patrol initiated advanced life saving protocol immediately,” according to a statement from the Aspen Skiing Co.; five paramedics from the Snowmass/Wildcat Fire Department arrived on scene but were unable to revive the man.

According to SkiCo spokesman Jeff Hanle, Duff’s passing was believed to be the first mountain biking-related fatality at Snowmass.

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Victim in Snowmass bike crash identified