911 Calls Report Avalanche Incidents

A series of avalanches in Colorado and Montana killed two persons and injured several others, and 911 played an important role in making rescues and recoveries. In Colorado a brother and sister were snow skiing when they hit a ridge that fell away from them. The brother was injured but managed to dig himself out, and found that he could not reach his buried sister. He hiked overnight to a point where he had cellular service to dial 911. Rescuers could not revive his sister after digging her out. A man died in another avalanche in the same area, and second man died in a Montana avalanche. Both incidents were reported by 911 calls.