Latest news with #RichCountySheriff'sOffice
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Snowmobiler Killed in Utah Avalanche: 'Just Monster Slabs of Snow'
A 37-year-old man is dead after being buried in snow during an avalanche while riding a snowmobile in Utah. On Tuesday, Feb. 4, the Rich County Sheriff's Office identified the victim as Scott Wright from Evanston, Wyo. The avalanche occurred on Monday, Feb. 3, in the Monte Cristo Snowmobile Area near the Rich County and Cache County Line, the sheriff's office said in a press release. Wright was snowmobiling with a friend of his at the time of the fatal accident. Afterward, 'the friend was unable to locate the victim and called for help,' the sheriff's office said. Rich County Search and Rescue were dispatched to the scene at approximately 3 p.m. local time, and multiple other agencies assisted with the search. Related: Utah Snowmobiler Buried in Avalanche Recalls Being Saved by Brother While on His 'Last Breath': 'Christmas Miracle' 'The snow was very deep where the avalanche occurred and it took nearly four hours to locate the victim,' who was found around 6:30 p.m., the sheriff's office continued. In a preliminary report, the Utah Avalanche Center said Wright 'was caught, carried, and fully buried in a large hard slab avalanche.' Dave Sparks told Fox 13 Salt Lake City that his team at Sparks Heavy Rescue faced difficulty locating the victim as they assisted with the search. 'This was a difficult one because the slide was really, really big. It was one of the bigger ones I've seen. There was slabs of snow that were five feet thick by 12 feet long — just monster slabs of snow,' Sparks told the news outlet. Related: 2 Skiers Killed in Utah Avalanche, 1 Rescued After Digging Himself Out: 'Tragic Accident' 'The fact that the whole thing broke and slid down into the trees made it an extremely complicated recovery," he said. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Sparks, who allowed his helicopter to be used following the avalanche, explained, "So logistics on this one were very challenging, that's why the Black Hawk is such a powerful tool for this type of stuff." 'That could be a pillow-shaped slope, and then if you're getting any cracking or collapsing, that's a telltale sign that the slope is unstable,' Nikki Champion, a forecaster with the Utah Avalanche Center, told the news station. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wyoming man killed in Utah avalanche while snowmobiling with friend
Police in Utah said a Wyoming man was killed on Monday after an avalanche occurred while he was snowmobiling in the northern part of the state. According to information provided by the Rich County Sheriff's Office, the 37-year-old victim from Evanston, Wyoming, had been snowmobiling in the Monte Cristo Snowmobile Area with a friend when the avalanche occurred. The unidentified friend was unable to locate the victim after the avalanche and called for help. How To Watch Fox Weather Officials said first responders, including helicopters and a K-9 team, were dispatched to the area just after 3 p.m. local time. According to the Rich County Sheriff's Office, the snow was very deep where the avalanche occurred, and it took nearly four hours to locate the victim. The victim was located just before 6:30 p.m. local time. Avalanche conditions across the western U.s. range from low to extreme, and Avalanche Watches and Warnings have been issued. A considerable avalanche danger exists at higher elevations in six states across the West, while high and extreme conditions have been reported in parts of Northern California and Idaho. Download The Free Fox Weather App Because of the threat, Avalanche Watches and Warnings have been issued in parts of western Montana, while Avalanche Warnings are in effect in Idaho, California and Nevada. According to the West Central Montana Avalanche Center in Missoula, Montana, the recent heavy snow, combined with high winds, will likely create widespread areas of unstable snow across the region. And the Sierra Avalanche Center in Truckee, California, said a Backcountry Avalanche Warning is in effect for the central Sierra Nevada mountains between Yuba Pass and Ebbetts Pass, including the greater Lake Tahoe area. Dangers Of Avalanches And How To Stay Safe On The Slopes However, the warning does not include ski areas or highways where avalanche mitigation programs occur. "Dangerous avalanche conditions exist in the mountains due to heavy snow, rain on snow, and strong winds," officials said. "Widespread avalanche activity is very likely." In addition, avalanches that are large enough to bury or injure people are expected across the article source: Wyoming man killed in Utah avalanche while snowmobiling with friend
