One person died following an avalanche near Truckee on Monday, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office. Around 2:19 p.m., dispatchers received a call about a possible avalanche that unfolded among a group of five snowmobilers near Johnson and Castle peaks, with one person unaccounted for.The sheriff’s office said the missing snowmobiler was found buried under the snow minutes later, and was pulled out by others in the group. Despite lifesaving efforts, he died from his injuries.Two additional snowmobilers assisted the group when the avalanche occurred and stayed with them, Sgt. Dustin Moe with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office told KCRA 3.”Just given the recent snow conditions out there, we want to keep the safety of the searchers a priority, so mitigating those risks, trying to plan out a route in a way that we can safely make it to the people out there, was the biggest task to overcome during this incident. We deployed people in different locations, and trying to get out in the field proved extremely difficult. The victim in this case ended up being on a different route than we initially planned,” Moe said. Officials haven’t released information on the victim. No other injuries were reported.Officials said around 45 personnel from the sheriff’s office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, the California Highway Patrol, the Truckee Fire Department, North Truckee Fire Department and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office are involved in the search. The area where the avalanche occurred is commonly used for recreational activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Officials say treacherous terrain, steep peaks, and cliff faces can be dangerous for people navigating. The Sierra Avalanche Center depicts a “considerable” risk for an avalanche in the Tahoe Basin as of Monday afternoon. The sheriff’s office said further avalanche activity remains possible, and recreationists should avoid the area. See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel
NEVADA COUNTY, Calif. —
One person died following an avalanche near Truckee on Monday, according to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office.
Around 2:19 p.m., dispatchers received a call about a possible avalanche that unfolded among a group of five snowmobilers near Johnson and Castle peaks, with one person unaccounted for.
The sheriff’s office said the missing snowmobiler was found buried under the snow minutes later, and was pulled out by others in the group. Despite lifesaving efforts, he died from his injuries.
Two additional snowmobilers assisted the group when the avalanche occurred and stayed with them, Sgt. Dustin Moe with the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office told KCRA 3.
“Just given the recent snow conditions out there, we want to keep the safety of the searchers a priority, so mitigating those risks, trying to plan out a route in a way that we can safely make it to the people out there, was the biggest task to overcome during this incident. We deployed people in different locations, and trying to get out in the field proved extremely difficult. The victim in this case ended up being on a different route than we initially planned,” Moe said.
Officials haven’t released information on the victim. No other injuries were reported.
Officials said around 45 personnel from the sheriff’s office, Tahoe Nordic Search and Rescue, the California Highway Patrol, the Truckee Fire Department, North Truckee Fire Department and the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office are involved in the search.
The area where the avalanche occurred is commonly used for recreational activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Officials say treacherous terrain, steep peaks, and cliff faces can be dangerous for people navigating.
The Sierra Avalanche Center depicts a “considerable” risk for an avalanche in the Tahoe Basin as of Monday afternoon. The sheriff’s office said further avalanche activity remains possible, and recreationists should avoid the area.
See news happening? Send us your photos or videos if it’s safe to do so at kcra.com/upload.
See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel