STEVENS PASS, WA (WKOW)--A deadly avalanche killed three expert skiers at Stevens Pass in Washington state.
About a dozen skiers were making their way Sunday through a foot- and-a- half of fresh snow, off the official course, when the avalanche hit them.
Eight skiers were trapped; five were rescued.
World Tour official Jim Jack, Stevens Pass marketing director Chris Rudolph and skier John Brenan died.
One skier who was buried but survived says the safety airbag she kept in her backpack saved her life by keeping her head and arms above the snow.
Forecasters say the risk of additional slides in the region could remain high all season.
Avalanches kill an average of 25 people in the U.S. each year.
So far this winter, 17 people have died.
