One person was killed and one person was seriously injured in an avalanche at Alpine Meadows in Lake Tahoe. The incident happened Friday morning around 10:15 a.m. near the Subway ski run inbounds at the resort. Placer County sheriff’s office and search and rescue crews responded on scene. One male skier was found dead who was later identified as 34-year-old Cole Comstock from Blairsden, California. A second male suffered serious injuries to the lower-body and was hospitalized. Our deepest sympathies to friends and family of the deceased and our best wishes to the skier who was injured in the slide.
PRESS RELEASE FROM SQUAW/ALPINE:
(Alpine Meadows, Calif.) Jan. 17, 2020: At approximately 10:16 am today an avalanche was reported in the area between Scott Chute and Promised Land near Scott Chair at Alpine Meadows, within an open area of the resort. A male skier sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased by the Placer County Sheriff’s Office at approximately 11am. A second male skier sustained severe lower-body injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. Alpine Meadows Ski Patrol responded immediately to the scene and completed a thorough search of the area with the help of additional resort personnel and members of the public using avalanche transceivers, probes, RECCO Rescue System technology, and avalanche rescue dog teams. Witnesses to the incident saw no other individuals involved, no additional individuals have been reported missing and the search was declared complete at 11:45am.
The entire Squaw Valley Alpine Meadows team, including all of the first responders, extend their deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the deceased. We are working closely with the families of all the affected individuals to ensure their continued care.
The cause of the avalanche is unknown at this time pending additional investigation.
***This statement will be updated if additional information becomes available.
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UPDATE:@PlacerSheriff says Cole Comstock, 34, died in the avalanche.
Comstock was from Blairsden, Calif. pic.twitter.com/0dCD01OVMT
— Emily Maher (@EmilyMaherTV) January 17, 2020