One Fatality, Three Serious Injuries Confirmed at Ice Cave Collapse

VERLOT, Wash. – The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office-Search and Rescue,  has confirmed one fatality at the partial collapse of the Big Four Ice Caves earlier today.

One adult female and two adult males were transported from the area by Airlift Northwest with serious injuries to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle.  In addition, one juvenile female was transported via ground to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett with minor injuries.

The initial call came in to 9-1-1 around 5:38 p.m. and it is estimated that the collapse occurred around 45 minutes earlier.  The Sheriff’s Office helicopter rescue team was able to reach the three seriously injured people and transport them to the Big Four Ice Caves picnic area, where they were delivered to AirLift Northwest.

The Big Four Ice Caves area is closed until further notice while search and rescue teams assess the area for recovery of the deceased victim.  Due to the fragile nature of the ice at the caves because of hot weather and rock fall from overhead, teams are working to ensure the safety of all rescue personnel.  The recovery efforts have been suspended for the evening.

The next update will be at 10 a.m. tomorrow.

On May 13, 2015, the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office had released a press release warning of this very type of incident due to the hot weather. A copy of the press release is listed below:

MT. BAKER-SNOQUALMIE NATIONAL FOREST, Wash. – US Forest Service Field Rangers assigned to the Big Four Ice Caves trail have reported that sections of the cave have collapsed, causing concern for visitors to the area.

“As we head into the busiest and warmest part of the season the cave is in its most dangerous state,” said Lead Field Ranger Matthew Riggen. “The cave is in a condition that we would normally not see until at least September – large, inviting and collapsing.”

Visitors are urged to stay on the trail, NOT to enter the cave and to take extreme caution in the area outside the caves below Big Four Mountain as well, which is prone to falling rocks and ice.

“I would ask that in addition to looking at that beautiful mountain, visitors should stop and look at that beautiful marker for a beautiful little girl,” said Search and Rescue Sgt. Danny Wikstrom, referring to 11 year-old Grace Tam who died in 2010 when a chunk of ice broke free and struck her.  Tam’s family worked with the US Forest Service to install a message at the trail viewpoint to connect visitors with the Tam family’s tragedy and warn them of the dangers.  “I wouldn’t want anyone else to experience that horrible loss.”

Summer-like weather the past few weekends have resulted in an increase in visitors to the Big Four Ice Caves Trail.  Last Sunday, rangers counted at least 442 visitors to the trail.

 

Source: Snohomish County Website: