Snowmachiner dies in avalanche near Cooper Lake

A snowmachiner was killed Monday afternoon in an avalanche on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska State Troopers reported late Monday night.

AST said that at approximately 3:20 pm, the Soldotna Public Safety Communications Center received a 911 call stating there had been an avalanche in the Cooper Lake area and one snowmachiner had been buried.

Troopers based in Seward responded while witnesses on scene began immediate recovery efforts, officials said.

The snowmachiner, later identified as 32-year-old Kekai Dang of Kasilof, was recovered approximately two hours after the avalanche and pronounced deceased on scene.

AST says the victim's family has been notified.