BETHLEHEM, Pa. — A 63-year-old woman died early Monday as a result of a fall at the SteelStacks Ice Rink, the Lehigh County coroner said.
Maria Luisa Jimenez, of Costa Rica, was pronounced dead at 1:33 a.m. Monday at St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill, Coroner Dan Buglio said.
Buglio ruled the cause of death was a closed-head injury due to a fall, and said the manner of death was accidental.
Buglio said Jimenez fell backward while skating at the rink and struck her head on the ice. He said it happened at 2:20 p.m. Sunday.
'We are devastated that this incident occurred, and our hearts go out to Ms. Jimenez’s family, friends and loved ones."
ArtsQuest prepared statement
ArtsQuest, the nonprofit organization that runs the rink at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks, said in a prepared statement that it is "devastated that this incident occurred, and our hearts go out to Ms. Jimenez’s family, friends and loved ones."
"Yesterday afternoon at the Ice Rink at SteelStacks, an individual, Maria Luisa Jimenez, fell on the ice while ice skating," ArtsQuest said in the statement.
"The Bethlehem Police Department, The Bethlehem Fire Department, Bethlehem EMS and ArtsQuest Event Security responded to the scene and the individual was transported by ambulance to St. Luke’s University Health Network."
This is the third year for the popular Ice Rink at SteelStacks. In its second season, it drew more than 10,000 patrons.