Lawsuit Filed Over Death of Snowboarder

SAN BERNARDINO —  The mother of a snowboarder who died after surviving nearly a week on a freezing mountain has sued a hospital, contending that he received improper care.

“We do believe that the hospital could have saved this boy’s life,” said Arthur Sherman, an attorney for Lori Thornton.

Jeff Thornton, 14, of Brawley, disappeared Feb. 7 in the San Gabriel Mountains. He had been snowboarding with his uncle near the Mountain High ski resort at Wrightwood.

He spent days in subfreezing temperatures before rescuers found him Feb. 13.

He was hospitalized at Loma Linda University Medical Center with frostbite, dehydration, broken bones, an eye injury and gangrene. He developed complications and died a week later during surgery when a tube punctured one of his heart valves.

The coroner’s office said the risky surgery was necessary because the boy was dying from infection stemming from his exposure.

However, the lawsuit, filed in San Bernardino County Superior Court, claims that Loma Linda and six of its doctors failed to properly treat the boy.

The hospital referred calls to its attorney, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

The suit also accuses Mountain High of failing to post warnings properly for snowboarders about dangerous areas.

Karl Kapuscinski, the resort’s general manager, said all trails were properly marked.