An avalanche Friday morning has taken the life of one skier at the Alpine Meadows Ski Resort near Lake Tahoe, and a second skier has reportedly suffered serious "lower body" injuries.
The avalanche occurred around 10:15 a.m. above the beginners' run known as Subway. As KCRA reports, one male skier died in the snow, and a second male skier was hospitalized. A news release from the mountain says "Witnesses to the incident saw no other individuals involved." The Subway ski run has since been closed.
Placer County Sheriff's Sgt. Mike Powers said in a video posted to Twitter that the avalanche occurred in an "advanced ski area." And he added that the resort remained open and there was no immediate danger of avalanches elsewhere on the mountain.
About two feet of snow fell in the area during Thursday's storm, and SFGate reports that Alpine Meadows Road was briefly closed around 7 a.m. Friday for avalanche control. The ski area backs up against the larger and affiliated Squaw Valley resort.
Sgt. Powers near the scene with the latest on the avalanche at #alpinemeadows 1 confirmed fatality,2nd victim with serious injuries on the way to a hospital. SAR volunteers looking for more potential unaccounted victims. Ski resort still open, but area near Subway ski run closed. pic.twitter.com/DC209XK2g1
— Placer Sheriff (@PlacerSheriff) January 17, 2020
Photo via SquawAlpine.com
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