The Terry Peak ski patrol team responded to the collision very quickly, said Jerri Martz, a Rapid City woman at the resort Sunday with her children and husband. She was in the lodge at the bottom of Stewart Slope Saturday when Heilman hit the tower. Martz said a friend saw Heilman hit the tower and drop to the ground.

"What I saw was the immediate response of the ski patrol. They were on it super fast - you could tell they were super focused on it," she said. "I just saw tons of ski patrol, and you could tell it was a critical situation."

The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office and an emergency helicopter service from Rapid City Regional Hospital also responded to the collision, Marsing said. Heilman was taken by ambulance to Lead-Deadwood Regional Hospital, where she later died.

Marsing said the Lawrence County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash. The sheriff's office was not available for comment on Sunday.

Terry Peak will also perform its own investigation where they will collect measurements, photos and witness statements, Marsing said. Currently the resort does not require helmets or lessons for skiers but recommends both, he said.