Man Dies In Snowboarding Fall At American Dream: Sources, Report

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — An Air National Guardsman died after an apparent snowboarding accident last week at an indoor ski resort in Bergen County, according to sources and a Newsday report.

Peter Mathews, a crew chief with the Maryland Air National Guard's 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, was identified in the report as a guest who died Thursday after a fall on the ski slopes at Big SNOW American Dream.

"It is with a very heavy heart that we announce the loss of one of our own," the 175th Wing said of Mathews, who was awarded an Air Force Achievement Medal for accomplishments during two exercises earlier this year.

Assigned to the 175th Maintenance Squadron, Airman First Class Mathews was serving there until his death, the Air Guard unit said in a Facebook post.

"Peter was genuinely an amazing person, and his smile lit up the room," said U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Golabiewski, 175th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron senior enlisted leader. "If you had a chance to talk to him, you knew instantly he had a remarkable future and was destined for greatness."

A memorial fund established through the Gospel Missions of India said that Mathews, 24, is survived by his parents and two younger sisters, and that he was "passionate about expanding the Kingdom of God through involvement in church ministries."

In honor of Mathews, the family, the fund said, is requesting that donations be made to the Gospel Missions of India.

Neither a spokesperson with Big SNOW nor New Jersey State Police, who handle events within the mall, identified the person involved in the accident, yet they said he was administered first aid and taken to a local hospital.

"Our thoughts are with this guest's family at this time," Big SNOW spokesperson Brian Lowe said. "In the interest of the guest’s privacy, no additional information will be provided."