Teen seriously injured in Breckenridge roof avalanche

DENVER (KDVR) — Two teens were buried, and one was critically injured, in a roof avalanche in Breckenridge.

On Monday, a few days after Colorado’s biggest snowstorm since 2021, the Colorado Avalanche Information Center said two teens were playing outside a home in Breckenridge when a roof avalanche occurred.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center said the two teens were partially buried under the snow and one of the teens was seriously injured.

The information center has not released an update on the teen’s status as of Wednesday.

“This is a tragic accident. Like any avalanche accident, we want to warn people about being caught in a similar event,” said CAIC Director Ethan Greene. “Roof avalanches are a problem every year in mountain communities, but right now we have a lot of snow in unusual places. We remain concerned about this hazard throughout the week.” 

The last time someone died from a roof avalanche was on March 16, 2023, when two children and a father were buried in a slide near Durango. One of the children died.

In total, five people have died in roof avalanches in Colorado in the last 30 years. However, there have been plenty more injuries and close calls.

Roof avalanches are a serious danger and can occur after a big snowstorm or when there is rapid warming.

The avalanche information center provided advice on what to do when thick snow builds up:

• Always pay attention to snowy roofs above you, and do not play with icicles
• Minimize the amount of time you spend below snow-loaded roofs
• Watch exposed people and keep a shovel nearby to locate someone
• Shovel roofs early to reduce the snow load and potential consequences of larger roof avalanches

More resources can be found on the Colorado Avalanche Information Center’s website.