Man forced to pay in snowboard accident
Carter served 10 days in jail as part of lesser charge
Wednesday, February 5, 2003
Steamboat Springs — A Georgia man who hurt a local woman when he ran into her on the slopes last year was ordered Wednesday to reimburse her for medical expenses.
Thomas Lakin Carter, 21, was snowboarding at the Steamboat Ski Area Nov. 30 when he struck Elaine Love, 58, and seriously injured her shoulder.
Carter earlier pleaded guilty to a third-degree assault charge and served 10 days in the Routt County Jail.
Routt County Judge James Garrecht sentenced Carter to 80 hours of community service and ordered him to pay medical bills not covered by Love's insurance.
"All I want is my out-of-pocket expenses," Love said.
An April restitution hearing will give a clearer picture of how much money Carter owes Love. The bills are just beginning to come in, and she does not yet know if other medical problems associated with the shoulder injury might arise, Love said.
Some bills can't be anticipated, 14th Judicial District Deputy Attorney Dave Moffat told Garrecht.
Love said the injury has adversely affected her active lifestyle. The accident left her temporarily unable to care for her 90-year-old mother and keeps her away from the sports she enjoys, she said.
"There are consequences for irresponsible behavior," she said.
Love said Carter disregarded the slow sign on the ski run. Carter said he "hit the brakes" before he hit Love, who was skiing, and rode away because he didn't realize she was injured.
Run-ins are common on the slopes, he said.
"I didn't think twice about it," Carter said.
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