Skier, 21, Dead After Attempting to Jump Over Highway

A 21-year-old man has died after attempting to jump over the width of Highway 40 in Colorado, authorities said.

Dallas LeBeau, a Gilpin County resident, died in the accident on Tuesday, April 9 at approximately 3 p.m. after he failed to clear the roadway near Winter Park, the Grand County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

LeBeau was unconscious and not breathing when a bystander initiated CPR until emergency personnel arrived. He was then pronounced dead at the scene. 

“The preliminary investigation revealed that the victim was attempting to perform a high-risk skiing stunt by trying to clear the width of Highway 40 and unfortunately lacked the necessary speed and distance and subsequently landed on the highway pavement,” the sheriff’s office said in the statement. 

LeBeau had been wearing a helmet and other protective gear, the sheriff’s office said.

Traffic on Highway 40 was impacted in both directions while authorities investigated the accident.

LeBeau had a history of performing stunts and welcoming risk, his childhood friend said.

“He wanted to do things that nobody else had done,” Devin Shirk told Fox affiliate KDVR-TV. “He always said his birthday was the same day as Evel Knievel.”

But the young man also loved to share his passion for skiing with anyone who listened.

“He encouraged other people to start skiing too,” Shirk said. “That was one of my favorite things about him too, is even if it wasn’t jumps, he would just be like, ‘You just gotta try skiing — it will change your life.’ ”

As of April 11, over $43,000 has been raised on GoFundMe for the young man’s family.