Snowboarder buried, killed in avalanche near Canyons Resort

The Park City Fire Department drives along White Pine Canyon Road at Canyons Resort after responding to a backcountry avalanche in Dutch Draw that buried one individual on Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019. | Colter Peterson, Deseret News

PARK CITY — A snowboarder was buried and killed late Sunday morning in an avalanche near a Park City ski resort, officials said.

The avalanche occurred in the backcountry of the Dutch Draw near Canyons Resort, according to the Summit County Sheriff’s Office. The snowboarder, a 45-year-old man, triggered the avalanche part of the way down the slope in the Conehead, according to the Utah Avalanche Center.

The man was caught and carried in the avalanche. Crews were able to dig him out of the snow by about 12:20 p.m., the sheriff’s office said, but life-saving efforts were unsuccessful.

“We offer our sincere condolences to the family,” the sheriff’s office said.

The man’s name was not immediately released.

Officials had described the avalanche as “significant” in size. The Conehead area is “steep, rocky and avalanche prone,” according to the avalanche center.

Park City and Canyons Resort officials, as well as avalanche center staff, were expected to investigate the scene on Monday.

The man was the only reported victim.

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