KEYSTONE, Colo. — Retired ABC News correspondent John McWethy died Wednesday after crashing into a tree while skiing at the Keystone resort, the Summit County coroner said.

Witnesses said McWethy, 61, was skiing fast on an intermediate trail when he missed a turn and slid chest-first into the tree shortly after 10 a.m., Coroner Joanne L. Richardson said.

She said he died of blunt force chest injuries.

He was pronounced dead at Summit Medical Center at about 2 p.m.

McWethy had moved to Boulder after he retired.

He was a 1969 graduate of DePauw University, which awarded him an honorary doctorate in 2002. He also held a master's degree from Columbia University's journalism school.

The longtime ABC correspondent was at the Pentagon when an American Airlines plane hijacked by terrorists crashed into the building Sept. 11, 2001.