A Texas man hit a tree and died Saturday while skiing at Purgatory, according to the La Plata County Coroner’s Office.

A 70-year-old man from Dallas hit a tree around 1:15 p.m. somewhere between Lift 3 and Lift 8, said Coroner Jann Smith. Ski patrol brought the man to emergency care on the front side of the mountain by snowmobile and called a Flight For Life helicopter for emergency transportation, she said.

The man, who was skiing with his wife, died on the mountain, Smith said. He was wearing a helmet, she said.

The coroner declined to release the man’s name on Saturday afternoon. An investigator with the La Plata County Sheriff’s Office declined to comment, citing an active investigation.

The man had some basic medical issues but “We don’t think that would have caused him to have an issue before he hit the tree,” Smith said. The Coroner’s Office plans to perform an autopsy sometime next week.

It’s been almost three years since someone died at Purgatory Resort. A New Jersey man died this week at Vail Resort. More than 40 people die each year skiing and snowboarding, according to the National Ski Areas Association.

bhauff@durangoherald.com