FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JANUARY 7, 2023
FATAL AVALANCHE ON CORONA PASS
GRAND COUNTY, CO- On January 7, 2023, at approximately 2:15 p.m. the Grand County Sheriff’s Office along with Grand County EMS, Grand County Search and Rescue, and a Winter Park Ski Patrol Dog Team responded to a report of an avalanche on Corona Pass in the area of Mount Epworth / Pumphouse Lake near the Town of Winter Park in unincorporated Grand County. Initial reports were that two snowmobilers had become buried in the avalanche.
Emergency responders with the assistance of citizens in the area, were able to recover one of the individuals, who was identified as a 58-year-old male from Northern Colorado. Despite emergency resuscitation efforts, this victim was pronounced deceased on scene and has been transferred to the Grand County Coroner’s Office. Responders were unable to locate the second buried male victim and were forced to retreat from the area due to weather and safety concerns.
Search and Rescue teams will be returning to the area early on Sunday, January 8, to continue the recovery efforts. The Sheriff’s Office, Grand County Search and Rescue and the Coroner’s Office have been in contact with the next of kin for both individuals and are providing support. The decedent’s identity and cause and manner of death will be released by the Coroner when appropriate.
Grand County Sheriff Brett Schroetlin shared, “Unfortunately, this is the second fatal avalanche that we have experienced this season in Grand County. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the victims. We encourage those recreating in our backcountry to regularly monitor the conditions and follow the advice of our avalanche professionals at Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC).”
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