Hesston teen killed in ski accident

(HESSTON, Kan) — A leader and a role model. That's how friends, coaches, and teachers describe a Kansas teen killed while on a spring break ski trip.

19-year-old Garrett Spencer from Hesston died Saturday after crashing into a tree at Wolf Creek Ski Area in Colorado.

Spencer graduated from Hesston High School and was a freshman at Kansas State University.

People in Hesston describe him as a natural leader.

“There have been so many stories of things he's done.  It's stuff that happens along the way and you don't think twice about it.  Now, you just reflect back and you think I knew Garrett was that kind of kid but it never registered with me,” says Ty Rhodes, Spencer’s former basketball coach at Hesston.

Officials in Colorado say Spencer received almost immediate attention after hitting the tree.

A skier passing by the scene happened to be a nurse, and tried to help. The ski patrol was alerted and arrived shortly after.