STAR VALLEY, WYO –
UPDATE: Late yesterday afternoon Bonneville County Sheriff’s Deputies, Search and Rescue, and Air Methods Helicopter were able to recover the body of 35-year-old Tommy Hawkins of Layton, UT who fell victim to an avalanche the previous night. Conditions in the area were extremely rough and steep, and heavy fog prevented assistance from Air Methods until the late afternoon.
Deputies were advised that Hawkins and two other male adults were riding in the area Friday when the avalanche was triggered. Hawkins was able to deploy an avalanche bag and had a beacon activated, but was unable to survive the slide. The two other riders were able to locate Hawkins and attempt CPR and lifesaving measures to no avail. The two companions were unable to transport Hawkins out of the area at that time, and conditions were unsafe for rescue personnel to continue rescue efforts until the following day.
UPDATE: According to Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 6:12pm on January 25, emergency search and rescue personnel from Bonneville and Teton County Idaho responded to the Cabin Creek area on the Victor side of Fogg Hill in Bonneville County to a report of an avalanche.
At least three adult riders were on snowmobiles in that area where the avalanche occurred. One of the riders, an adult male, was overcome by the slide and unable to get out. Two others were able to summon help.
Recovery of the victim, Tommy Hawkins, has resumed today and no further information is available at this time. Hawkins was a former Victor resident relocated to Layton, Utah, He leaves behind a wife and three kids.
A GoFundMe page has been established.
Original story:
Buckrail has learned of an avalanche fatality yesterday in the Palisades Creek drainage near Upper Palisades Lake in Idaho.
A male snowmobiler triggered a slide on January 25 around noon near Upper Palisades Lake and Palisades Peak. The avalanche occurred at approximately 6,703 feet. The man did not survive.
Buckrail is attempting to get more details on the incident.
