Coroner: Girl killed in Wyo. ski crash wore helmet

(12-27) 13:42 PST Casper, Wyo. (AP) --

A Wyoming coroner says a 5-year-old skier who died in a collision with a snowboarder was wearing a helmet, contrary to officials' earlier reports.

Natrona County Coroner Connie Jacobson says the girl, Elise Johnson, and 23-year-old Craig Shirley died of internal injuries from blunt force trauma.

Witnesses have said Shirley was snowboarding at high speed Friday at Hogadon (HO'-guh-dun) Ski Area when he collided with Elise and her mother. The mother and daughter had stopped in the middle of the run, which is rated as difficult.

The mother was hospitalized. Her name hasn't been released.

The circumstances of the crash are still under investigation.

Shirley's father told the Casper Star-Tribune that the run was covered in ice.

(This version corrects age of second killed skier, per sheriff's office.)