Colorado Snowboarders May Be Charged $168,000 For I-70 Avalanche
Two Colorado snowboarders may be charged $168,000 for starting an avalanche on I-70. The avalanche was above the Eisenhower Tunnel on March 25.
Two snowboarders, Evan Hannibal and Tyler DeWitt, were snowboarding in the White River National Forest above the Eisenhower Tunnel when they started an avalanche. Tyler attempted to release a small slab of snow, according to Vail Daily but ended up starting an avalanche instead.
Once the avalanche was over, the two Colorado snowboarders made their way to the bottom of the slope and contacted authorities. The snow from the avalanche covered Loop Road, which is above the Eisenhower Tunnel, in 20 feet of snow.
According to special operations technician with the Summit County Sheriff's Office, the debris from the avalanche was enough to trap or bury a vehicle. They also stated that the avalanche destroyed the avalanche control system too.
The two Colorado snowboarders may be responsible for the cost of the O'bellx avalanche control system, which is $168,000. Evan Hannibal stated this, according to Vail Daily:
Anytime you trigger a slide large enough to bury a road you made a mistake. Clearly, we made mistake.
Evan goes onto say he's never heard of anyone receiving a criminal penalty for making a mistake like this, according to Vail Daily. The two snowboarders are now facing a reckless endangerment charge and possibly $168,000 in restitution.