Hiker killed after being struck in head by falling ice

A hiker was killed Sunday after she was struck in the head by falling ice.Just after noon, New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified that a woman had been hit by a falling piece of ice and sustained a serious head injury on the Frankenstein Cliff Trail in Hart's Location. >> Download the FREE WMUR appThe victim was identified as Dr. Judith Pinsker, a Wellesley, Massachusetts, resident who had worked as a primary care physician at Tufts Medical Center for more than 20 years. The 57-year-old received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School.A group of doctors from Tufts Medical Center released the following as part of a message to employees regarding Pinsker's death:"She leaves a loving family and hundreds of Primary Care Boston patients who have been fortunate to experience her expertise and warmth."Pinsker's husband and another member of the hiking party, both physicians, tended quickly to her injuries, and ice climbers in the area also assisted.She was treated on the scene by first responders and was transported by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in North Conway. Her injuries were severe, and she was pronounced dead at the hospital."It's a tragedy any time of year, but especially hits hard (at the holidays),” said Sgt. Alex Lopashanski, of Fish and Game. “I’m sure it'll hit the family hard, especially this time of year. People go into the mountains, and people don't expect these things to happen. It's the last thing anybody expects to happen." Authorities believe the warm weather recently loosened up the ice and caused it to fall.

A hiker was killed Sunday after she was struck in the head by falling ice.

Just after noon, New Hampshire Fish and Game was notified that a woman had been hit by a falling piece of ice and sustained a serious head injury on the Frankenstein Cliff Trail in Hart's Location.


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The victim was identified as Dr. Judith Pinsker, a Wellesley, Massachusetts, resident who had worked as a primary care physician at Tufts Medical Center for more than 20 years. The 57-year-old received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School.

A group of doctors from Tufts Medical Center released the following as part of a message to employees regarding Pinsker's death:

"She leaves a loving family and hundreds of Primary Care Boston patients who have been fortunate to experience her expertise and warmth."



Pinsker's husband and another member of the hiking party, both physicians, tended quickly to her injuries, and ice climbers in the area also assisted.

She was treated on the scene by first responders and was transported by ambulance to Memorial Hospital in North Conway. Her injuries were severe, and she was pronounced dead at the hospital.

"It's a tragedy any time of year, but especially hits hard (at the holidays),” said Sgt. Alex Lopashanski, of Fish and Game. “I’m sure it'll hit the family hard, especially this time of year. People go into the mountains, and people don't expect these things to happen. It's the last thing anybody expects to happen."

Authorities believe the warm weather recently loosened up the ice and caused it to fall.