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Man dies while snowboarding at resort near Taos

TAOS, N.M. – A Rio Rancho man has died while snowboarding at a popular northern New Mexico ski resort.

Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe confirmed Monday that 28-year-old Jario Hernandez died over the weekend at Sipapu Ski and Summer Resort.

Hogrefe says his office is still completing an investigation of the Saturday incident. But so far, there is nothing to indicate the resort was at fault. Initially, Hogrefe reported that Hernandez had hit a tree.

J.P. Bradley, general manager, said ski patrollers arrived within minutes of receiving reports of a snowboarder in distress and administered CPR. Paramedics then took over and transported Hernandez to a hospital but he was pronounced dead.

The New Mexico Office of the Medical Investigator will conduct an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

The resort, about 25 miles south of Taos, continued operating the ski area where the incident happened.