Multiple cars trapped under 15 feet of snow after massive avalanche near Copper Mountain
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Cleanup efforts on CO 91 following a massive avalanche this afternoon.
Colorado State Patrol
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A look at the avalanche path that dumped 15 feet of snow on C0 91 near Copper Mountain, trapping multiple cars in the slide.
Colorado State Patrol
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A look at the avalanche path that dumped 15 feet of snow on C0 91 near Copper Mountain, trapping multiple cars in the slide.
Colorado State Patrol
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UPDATE at 6:10 p.m.: According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, four cars were caught in the avalanche on CO 91, though there were no injuries.
The department said that it was the first ever recorded avalanche on Resolute Cliff, an area CDOT has never performed mitigation work.
Charles Pitman, spokesperson with the Summit Rescue Group, said that it’s still unclear how many cars were trapped in the slide on CO 91, but said at least one vehicle was turned completely upside down and totally buried. The driver has been extricated, and no injuries have been reported.
Original Story:
At about 4 p.m. today a massive avalanche hit State Highway 91 by milepost 21, near Copper Mountain. Multiple cars were trapped in the slide, though there are no reports of injuries.
UPDATE at 4:39p.m.: Colin Remillard, a spokesperson with Colorado State Patrol, said that in addition to the massive avalanche that trapped cars on CO 91, there were “multiple” others in the same area. Where exactly they occurred or to what extent is currently unknown.
The avalanche covered about 300 feet of the roadway, with snow about 15 feet deep, said Colin Remillard, a spokesman with the Colorado State Patrol. Remillard said that at least two cars and as many as four were trapped in the slide. The people inside the cars were rescued, though the cars are still trapped in the roadway.
Remillard said Colorado State Patrol is expecting a “very extended” closure.
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