2 Skiers Dead In Separate Weekend Accidents At Lake Tahoe Resorts

TRUCKEE, Nevada County (CBS SF/AP) – Two skiers were killed over the weekend in accidents on the slopes of Lake Tahoe ski resorts, authorities said.

A 35-year-old ski instructor was killed in a skiing accident at the Northstar California resort near Truckee on Sunday.

His death came hours after searchers located the body of a 64-year-old skier who was killed when he was swept up in an avalanche Saturday morning at the Mt. Rose ski area.

Placer County Sheriff's Sgt. David Hunt said Monday that Dennis Baltimore of Kings Beach died after he hit several rocks and crashed into a creek at the Northstar resort.

Nadia Guerriero, the resort's vice president and general manager, said the Northstar ski patrol responded to an accident on a beginning trail and assisted the Northstar Fire Department in providing emergency treatment before fire officials pronounced him dead.

Hunt said the sheriff's office is awaiting an autopsy report to determine an official cause of death.

Stormy weather on Saturday elevated concerns over the avalanche danger near Mt. Rose. Bob Harmon with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office said two skiers went around a gate and entered a closed section of the mountain known as The Chutes.

"This was a closed area and the skiers obviously made a decision that they wanted to make a run there and obviously this did not work out for the best," said Harmon.

Experts with the Sierra Avalanche Center said the dead skier may have triggered the avalanche.

The skier who escaped called for help, but after more than two feet of snow fell, Saturday's search was cut short.

"The body of a man believed to be the missing skier was located by searchers working within the search area shortly before 1:00pm Sunday," according to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office.

The body was reportedly found buried in about 8 to 10 feet of snow.

The name of the man has yet to be released, pending next-of-kin notification by the Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office.

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