Bedford native recovering from severe snowboarding accident

Friday, January 20, 2012

Once thought to be fatally injured, a Bedford native was recovering in a Maine hospital three days after a severe snowboarding accident threatened his life.

On Saturday, Nicholas Jones, 24, shattered his pelvis, split his liver and broke every bone in his face, among other injuries, when he veered off the trail and struck a tree while snowboarding at Sugarloaf Mountain in Maine.

Medical responders feared that the injuries were life-threatening, and two days later, Jones remains in critical condition in intensive care at Central Maine Medical Center in Lewiston, Maine.

But after several surgeries, the veteran skier is fast improving, and family members hope for a full recovery, Jones’ father, Grant, said Tuesday.

“He’s got his facilities, and even though he’s sedated, he’s as alert as can be,” Grant Jones said. “He’s in great spirits, (got) a great attitude, a great sense of humor.”

Jones, a student at the New England College of Optometry in Boston, was at Sugarloaf snowboarding over the weekend with a group of classmates when he veered off the trail.

Icy conditions with little snow cover made it difficult for Jones to slow down, and he hit the tree at such high impact that it cut his liver nearly all the way through, Grant Jones said.

The accident occurred two days after a Canadian man lost his life after crashing into a tree at Sugarloaf. The man died while being transported to a local hospital.

“There was nothing peculiar or unusual (about Nicholas’ accident),” Jones said. “Speed was a factor, but no more so than happens to a lot of us.

“It’s a classic thing that every time we’re on a slope, all of us are only 3 feet away from something like this happening,” Jones said.

The father said he wasn’t sure whether his son was wearing a helmet.

Nicholas Jones is still some time away from returning home – he’s awaiting further surgeries in the coming days, Grant Jones said. But family and friends are anxiously awaiting his release.

The 24-year-old is in his final year at the optometry school and is expecting to work next year with the Air Force.

“It might not be until next year now, but he’ll be there,” Grant Jones said. “That’ll be a good day.”

Jake Berry can be reached at 594-6402 or jberry@nashuatelegraph.com.