5-year-old dies after she’s buried in snow that fell from roof, Colorado officials say
A 5-year-old died from asphyxiation after snow fell from a roof at a Colorado ski resort and buried her, her 7-year-old brother and their father, officials said.
The family from Scottsdale, Arizona, was staying at a condominium at the Purgatory Resort in Durango, La Plata County Coroner Jann Smith told McClatchy News by phone March 23.
They were standing near the condo March 16 when snow and ice slid off the roof and buried them, Smith said.
Witnesses saw the snow cover the family and called for help, she said. They began digging the family out until rescuers got to the scene.
When rescuers reached the girl, she wasn’t breathing, Smith said. She had been under the snow for 19 minutes.
First responders found a pulse while she was being taken to a hospital in Durango, Smith said.
She was then transported to a different hospital where she died days later from cardiac arrest due to asphyxia, she said.
The father and son were also taken to a hospital, she said.
Smith did not disclose their current conditions, but the Durango Herald reported they were both in serious or critical condition.
Smith said the child’s father was “pretty shaken up” by the incident.
Purgatory Resort did not immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment Thursday, March 23.
Durango is in southwestern Colorado, about 400 miles from Denver.
This story was originally published March 24, 2023 at 10:27 AM with the headline "5-year-old dies after she’s buried in snow that fell from roof, Colorado officials say."
