A Layton, Utah man was caught in an avalanche on Monday, February 11, and sustained injuries that required an urgent medical flight from the scene.

While snowmobiling in the Sheep Pass area, Jacob Burton 28, was on top of the latest batch of snow which accounted for anywhere from six to 12 inches on top of an unstable base.  The machine broke the slide which carried the rider and machine through a grove of trees.

“He was totally buried with the exception of fingers on one hand,” said Deputy Corry Bassett with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO).  “He was alert but had a lot of pain from his injuries which prevented [Search & Rescue] from taking him out on toboggan so a helicopter was brought in and he was lifted from the scene.”

Reports stated that he suffered a shattered arm as well as other injuries.  According to Bassett, the other riders in his group came to Burton’s aid and rescued him.  Due to the nature of avalanches, victims often die of asphyxiation due to the compression of the snow.  For the latest avalanche conditions in the area, use www.jhavalanche.org.

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