Woman, 55, killed on Sundance zip line died after 'hitting a tree that was blown into her path in freak accident'

  • Lisa Lambe, 55, died Friday afternoon after she struck the collapsed tree
  • Police said it was either leaning on the line or fell into her path 
  • Lambe, who was moving at up to 65mph, died quickly - maybe instantly
  • She was found to have suffered 'serious internal injuries' 

A 55-year-old woman who died after suffering serious internal injuries while on the zip line attraction at Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah Friday struck a collapsed tree, authorities confirmed Friday.

Lisa Lambe, from Hilton Head, South Carolina, was found suspended in a zip line harness Friday afternoon and was immediately brought to the ground where paramedics tried - and failed - to revive her.

Police now have evidence that winds had caused a tree to collapse in her path, delivering the fatal blow, Fox13now reported. 

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Lisa Lambe (pictured), 55, died after suffering 'serious internal injuries' while on the zip line attraction at the Sundance Mountain Resort in Utah Friday. Police now believe she struck a collapsed tree

'If you ever think of a freak accident, this is probably the text-book definition of that,' Sgt. Spencer Cannon of the Utah County Sheriff's Office told the station. 

'We believe that most likely it was either leaning on the line as she hit it, or it fell into her path as she came down.'

Lambe, who was travelling at speeds of between 30 and 65 mph, would have died within minutes of hitting the tree - or possibly on impact, the medical examiner said.

The incident occurred Friday around 5.30pm as Lambe was on her last span of the zip line's five spans, Czar Johnson, director of mountain operations, told The Daily Herald of Provo Saturday.

Initially what had caused her injuries was a mystery, but according to a statement by Utah County Sheriff's Office, investigators noted a tree near the zip line that was broken at the top.

They 'recovered evidence from the tree that shows Lambe came into contact with it, which was consistent with her injuries at the scene,' the statement continued.

'Investigators believe that high winds caused the tree to break and fall into Lambe’s path in this unfortunate accident.

'There is no evidence of criminal wrongdoing in this case,' it concluded.

Cannon said to Fox13now that in order for criminal wrongdoing to be a possibility, 'Essentially somebody would have had to do this with the intent of hurting somebody.'

He added that there was 'zero evidence at all that that happened.'

The zip line tour resumed normal service Monday after getting the all-clear.

In a statement, Sundance said: 'Sundance goes to great lengths to operate our ZipTour excursion with safety as the top priority. 

'This includes daily, monthly, seasonal and annual inspections of all lines, foundations and equipment. Both local authorities and the zip-line manufacturer have inspected the Sundance ZipTour and have cleared all spans for full operation.

'Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the family of Mrs. Lambe.'

The resort offers summertime 'zip tours' that allow visitors to take in scenery while riding a zip line with a 2,100-foot vertical drop, according to the website.

Guests can control their speed and cruise at about 65 mph.

The incident occurred Friday around 5.30pm as Lambe was on her last span of the zip line's five spans. (file photo)

 

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