UPDATE: Snowmobiler identified after fatal avalanche
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UPDATE:
Family members have confirmed Tommy Hawkins, of Layton, Utah, was killed in the avalanche Friday. He was a former resident of Victor and a Teton High School graduate, according to sister Angela Spencer.
Spencer tells EastIdahoNews.com her brother and the three other riders were all buried in the avalanche, but the other riders were able to get out on their own. Hawkins was able to deploy an avalanche bag and a beacon activated, allowing the other riders to find him. They attempted CPR, however, it was not successful.
The riders were unable to transport Hawkins out of the area at that time and conditions were unsafe for rescue personnel to continue rescue efforts until Saturday morning, according to a Bonneville County news release.
A GoFundMe has been started to help the family.
A viewing will he held Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Victor LDS Church Building. A second viewing will be held next Saturday, Feb. 2 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m.
ORIGINAL STORY:
IDAHO FALLS — A snowmobiler died in an avalanche near Upper Palisades Lake Friday.
The Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office reports at about 6:15 p.m., emergency search and rescue personnel from Bonneville and Teton counties responded to the Cabin Creek area on the Victor side of Fog Mountain in Bonneville County for an avalanche.
Sheriff’s spokesman Sgt. Bryan Lovell said at least three adult riders were on snowmobiles in the area. One of the riders, a man who has not been identified, was overcome by the slide and unable to get out. The other riders were able to call for help.
Officials are working to recover the body.
The Bridger-Teton Avalanche Center advises the avalanche danger scale along the Idaho/Wyoming is considerable this weekend. Skiers and riders could easily trigger small to large avalanches in the area.
Additionally, the Sawtooth Avalanche Center says danger scale is also considerable in the Central Mountains, including parts of the Sawtooth National Forest and the Salmon-Challis National Forest.
Officials advise skiers and riders to be vigilant in their evaluation of area snowpack. Always prepare for avalanche and winter emergencies and survival before you go and make safety a priority.