Heavenly Ski Resort Deaths: Two Men Died in Separate February 2026 Incidents
Updated September 7, 2026.
Two men died in separate, unrelated incidents at Heavenly Ski Resort on February 20, 2026, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The sheriff’s office identified the men as Nicholas Jamil Haddad, 33, of West Bloomfield, Michigan, and Brian Robert Frias, 57, of Elk Grove, California.
What Happened at Heavenly
Deputies responded at about 11:55 a.m. to Heavenly’s Boulder Lodge on the Nevada side of the resort. Heavenly Ski Patrol transported both men to the base area, where ski patrol and Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District paramedics attempted lifesaving measures.
Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.
Two Unrelated Incidents
Heavenly said ski patrol responded to an incident involving Haddad on the intermediate Orion trail. He was transported to paramedics at Boulder Lodge and pronounced dead after additional emergency care.
Frias experienced a serious medical event on the Tamarack Return trail. He was also transported to emergency personnel at the Boulder base and later pronounced dead.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said the two incidents were not connected and there was no known relationship between the men.
Official Identification
The sheriff’s office released the names on February 23 after notifying relatives. At that time, the cause and manner of death remained under investigation.
Read the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office identification notice.
Historical Report, Not Current Conditions
This page documents incidents from February 20, 2026. It is not a current resort-safety or operating report.
Before visiting Heavenly, check the resort’s official operations page and current Tahoe road conditions:
- Lake Tahoe ski resort live cameras
- Lake Tahoe road, weather and snow conditions
- Lake Tahoe ski resort comparison
- Heavenly Gondola guide
Frequently Asked Questions
Were the two deaths connected?
No. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office said the incidents were unrelated and there was no known relationship between the men.
Where did the incidents happen?
The incidents involved the Orion trail and Tamarack Return trail. Both men were transported to the Boulder Lodge base area on the Nevada side of Heavenly.
Who were the two men?
The sheriff’s office identified them as Nicholas Jamil Haddad, 33, and Brian Robert Frias, 57.