U.S. Ski Team Coach Dies of Head Injuries From Car Wreck

Dan Bean, an Alpine select team coach for the U.S. Ski Team, died today from head injuries suffered in a car accident on an icy mountain highway.

The accident occurred Wednesday afternoon as Bean and his wife, Lisa, both of York, Me., were driving in a caravan with team members from Winter Park to Crested Butte for the U.S. Alpine Championships, which begin Friday.

Their car went out of control on icy U.S. 24 about 12 miles north of Buena Vista and ran off the road, down an embankment and into a tree, the Colorado State Patrol said.

Dan Bean, 34, a passenger in the car, died at St. Francis Hospital in Colorado Springs at 4:15 a.m. today after being flown there Wednesday night from Salida Hospital.

Lisa Bean, 22, was hospitalized with a lower back injury and was still being observed to determine if she would need surgery, St. Francis spokeswoman Kitty Sears said today.

Dan Bean was in his sixth season as a U.S. Ski Team coach and was moved to the position of Alpine select, or B team coach, this year.