An avalanche at East Vail trapped four people on Tuesday, and a search and rescue mission recovered three of them. The fourth was dead.
The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said that it was a “large triggered avalanche” that was reported at 1:19 p.m.
“East aspect near treeline,” the center said in an alert.
Three people were rescued while the fourth was dead, the Eagle County Sheriff told ABC. The death makes five deaths this season, reported Clayton Sandell of ABC. On average, 28 people have died annually in avalanches in Colorado.
The three people have non-life threatening injuries.
Recent storms and heavy winds prompted the center to increase the avalanche danger in mountains across the state to three this week.
The level 3 danger, indicating “considerable” danger, means that humans can likely trigger dangerous landslides--or they can occur naturally.
Story developing; check back for updates
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