A local man died following a skiing accident at Snowshoe Mountain Resort on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 4. He was identified as Jack L. Hewitt of Lewisburg.

Hewitt, 67, who was skiing on the mountain, apparently went off the trail. Members of the Snowshoe Ski Patrol responding at the scene found Hewitt severely injured “off a maintained slope,” according to a statement issued by the resort. “It’s unknown if he hit anything or if skiing was the cause of his death.” The patrol provided initial care and transported him to an ambulance at the bottom of the mountain. Hewitt was airlifted to Pocahontas Memorial Hospital where he later died.

“We’re still in shock” at the loss of “a wonderful man,” stated Lewisburg Mayor John Manchester.

“A  staple of the Lewisburg community,” Hewitt participated and contributed for decades in a long list of community activities. He was a broker with Nationwide Insurance and the owner of the Jack L. Hewitt Insurance Agency on Washington Street. According to his agency website, Hewitt served as past president of the Lewisburg Rotary Club, past chairman with the Greenbrier County Housing Authority, past secretary and past president of the board of Carnegie Hall, past board member of the Greenbrier Valley Theatre, past Boy Scout Cubmaster and was a member of Old Stone Presbyterian Church.

Snowshoe Ski Resort released the following statement on Sunday: “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family who was with him at the resort on Saturday during this difficult time. While accidents like this are rare, anytime something like this happens, it saddens all of us in the ski industry. Skier safety is of paramount importance to Snowshoe Mountain and we continue to strive to offer the safest environment possible for our visitors.”

Hewitt leaves wife, Meg, a local realtor, and one son.