All nine bodies of skiers killed in California avalanche recovered | California
The bodies of all nine skiers killed in a devastating avalanche in California have been recovered after days of search, authorities announced Saturday.
The avalanche occurred in the Sierra Nevada mountains in northern California, near Lake Tahoe, a popular ski and winter sports destination. There are no more missing people after Tuesday’s deadly avalanche.
“While we wish we could have saved them all, we are grateful we were able to bring them home,” Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon said at a news conference Saturday afternoon.
The discovery of the bodies on Saturday marked the end of a five-day effort to locate nine skiers missing after one of the deadliest avalanches in recent history.
Authorities and institutions completed rescue efforts in the snowy region with the help of the Black Hawk helicopter on Saturday morning. Six survivors were rescued earlier in the week, another eight were discovered dead, and one was declared missing and presumed dead. Four of the bodies were found Friday evening, and the last five were found Saturday morning.
Among the dead were six women and three professional guides. More than 40 rescuers from various local and federal agencies, including the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office and the California Highway Patrol, as well as Pacific Gas and Electric Company, participated in the effort Saturday. Challenging weather and snowy conditions prevented crews from recovering the bodies earlier this week.
The avalanche was the deadliest since 1981, and experts estimated the slide path was roughly the size of a football field, the AP said. reported.
Calls made to dispatchers on Tuesday reported that many skiers were trapped in an avalanche. Later that night, rescuers and crews contacted the six survivors and found the others dead. The teams were unable to remove the bodies due to heavy snow conditions. The snow lab near Donner Pass had recorded 28 inches of snow that day, with more expected and more avalanche risk warnings in place.
“I want to recognize the power of volunteers in all search and rescue units that our agencies truly rely on,” Moon said. “They’re pretty amazing people and it’s an honor to work with them.”
Skiers had come from different parts of the United States to enjoy a guided ski tour last weekend. The group had gone to cabins near Frog Lake where they stayed for two nights before starting the return journey when the avalanche hit.
“We are investigating the incident to determine if there are any factors that could be considered criminal negligence,” a sheriff’s office spokesman said. “Because the investigation is preliminary and active and ongoing, it is too early to know whether criminal charges will be filed. The district attorney’s office will ultimately be the determining authority on any criminal charges filed.”
