Avalanche Victim Identified As Westminster Man

VAIL, Colo. (AP) — The Eagle County coroner says the snowboarder who died in a large backcountry avalanche south of Vail Pass was from Westminster.

Coroner Kara Bettis identified him Friday as 38-year old Mark McCarron. His cause of death wasn't immediately determined.

Sheriff's officials have said he and another snowboarder likely triggered the slide Thursday after a friend on a snowmobile dropped them off at the top of Avalanche Bowl. McCarron was trapped in the avalanche. His friends found him using avalanche beacons but couldn't revive him.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says preliminary information is that McCarron was washed into a stand of trees in the avalanche, which was described as 10 feet deep and nearly 300 feet wide.

Detectives have said the parties involved were under the influence of marijuana.

LINK: Colorado Avalanche Information Center

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