article_snippet: Seven people have been left injured after a chair lift at a Maine ski resort malfunctioned and started traveling down the mountain backward, prompting riders to jump off, officials said on Saturday.
article_snippet: Three people were taken to hospital after Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort, carrying around 230 people, began operating in reverse at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort in Carrabassett Valley on Saturday morning.
article_snippet: Seven people (some of whom are pictured above) have been left injured after a chair lift at a Maine ski resort malfunctioned and started traveling down the mountain backward, prompting riders to jump off .
article_snippet: Three people were taken to hospital after Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort King Pine began operating in reverse at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort in Carrabassett Valley Carrabassett Valley on Saturday.
article_snippet: Above, a skier is evacuated from Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort after a skier stopped .
article_snippet: And as gravity works all the chairs started to go faster and faster and people were jumping off at the lower levels,' the 42-year-old skier added, estimating that Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort traveled backward for up to 300 yards before stopping.
article_snippet: Susan Haws Clifford, who was on the lift with her daughter, told WMTW News 8 that it 'started heading backwards really fast', adding: 'We were able to unbind We skis and jump off uninjured.'
article_snippet: But while some skiers close to the ground leaped off Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort, one man who was not able to ended up going around the loading area and heading up the mountain on the other side, Segre said.
article_snippet: Above, the 42-year-old skier is helped by a resort official .
article_snippet: Above, people stuck on Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort after the machine stopped .
article_snippet: It is unclear whether the injured riders jumped off Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort, or fell off due to its erratic movements.
article_snippet: Segre told AP Segre looked like three or four people were being tended to in the loading area of Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort, adding: 'I think everybody was being very careful not to move three or four people until ski patrol arrived.'
article_snippet: While some skiers close to the ground leaped off the lift (pictured), one man who was not able to ended up going around the loading area and heading up the mountain on the other side .
article_snippet: The chairlift, which can transport 2,100 skiers an hour on 122 chairs, receives routine daily inspections for safety, Austin said.
article_snippet: Sugarloaf Mountain Resort was the site of another chairlift accident in 2010 in which a 35-year-old lift derailed, causing five chairs to fall to the ground, injuring eight skiers. 
article_snippet: a 35-year-old lift was replaced in 2011.
highlights_snippet: Chair lift at Sugarloaf Mountain Resort malfunctioned Saturday morning .
  