a”
4

ae
Pete

Se eer ee

wad

: * of snaw- and rubble, He was (rausported lo:

“. Tragedy struck at Mile 28 west of Terrace when an

_ avalanche tore down some 400 feet of mountainside:

Some 100 foot wide to completely engulf the North
Route Service Station and restaurant under 20 fo 30
feet of wet packed snow. To press time there were
7. Kiown dead, Allan MacDonald, J in his 20’s of

_+ Terrace, a Departinent of ‘Highways employee, the
_ Second victim to be identified was Steve Mintenko

about-50-of Terrace and the third, Donald ¢.M.
_Lagimodiere, 28, a Prince Rupert businessman... -

_..,,The fourth victim had not been identified at press
_ time. oo ‘

.. There was one miraculous survival when the search

Rotary é
Conventional
Engines

eee — by MAZDA

_ New -& Used Vehicles.
SKEEHA AUTO
METAL SHOP Ltd

7 MIRACULOUS SURVIVAL
7 KNOWN DEAD.

fram exposure, He-is in the intensive care unit. Mr.
Zobel delivers the'mall tram Kitimat and Terrace jo
Prince Rupert. - oo ey
Vs. The diggers working incessantly ‘at the site fear
that the ruble and snow may conceal as many as 12
to 18 casualties.” |... There were several vehicles
uncovered‘ near..the restaurant? and there is a
possibility that. more wilt be discovered as the rescue
partie battle against the heavy packed snow.. -
- The press was advised that there were four house

a oi " ons)

‘The oldest newspaper in the Pacific Northwest.

TERRACE, B.C, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1974

trailers on the site but no signs of thase were found

when this reporter left the scene.at nightfall...
. A report has been confirmed that specially frained
dogs are or have been flown to the site by helicopter.

- Experts who have dealt with this avalanche prone
arear of Highway 14 say that at least two thirds of the
snow still clings to the mountain side and there is a
real danger of further slides. One smaller slide took

place during rescue operations about a mile to the

“west of the di

pete Seba aa amma

FROVINCIAL LIBRARY |
-PARLIAHENT BLDS.
VICTORIA B.C.

isaster site. .
.. There have been some half dozen minor slides

between Terrace and Prince Rupert and a helicopter.
swing along the range shows mountains laden with |
the more than seven food of snow that have cascaded —

- down over this area ovar the pas! teh days.

:- The Canadian National Railways have sent a work

’ train to the site and it is providing warmth, coffee and

food for the rescue feams. These continued to work
throughout the nite with relief crews going aut as
offen as, possible. os
. Highways Department people are struggling

‘valiantly fo get the road through open but af nightfall

yesterday thera was only one fane open an and tw
siviall slides were hampering clearance. ;
.. The slide appears fa have taken place about 6:00
a.m. Tuesday morning and was sited at about 10:00
am. by a passing helicopter who alerted’ the

authorities, .

” ’

TRUCKS
685-6975

he

Vaulkmar Werner Zobel, who runs the mail
ram Kitimal and Terrace to Prince Ruperi,

irvived seven hours buried benealh sixfeet™ time, ”~

ai i \

othe mer pine OA SS ROO mB a

The site of he tragic avalanche fram an Okanagan Helicopter. The tons of wet
snow crashed down from (he east of lhe picture comptetely demolishing the Narlh
Roule Service Slation and adjacent restaurant. Circled is where rescue crews

path-is indicated by the arrow, -

Terrace Hospital by Okanngan Helicopters:werd — ,
he was repor

ted to. be in poor condition al press."

uncovered the three bodies and the survivor, The square shows Mr. Zobel's mail
truck overturned by the forcenf the crashing snow. The direclion of the avalanche s

fof a ; - Rescue workers worked franlially (hrough the day and nighl ag ‘Ihey gingerly

_ One of the viclims of the snowslide is removed tram ihe debris and

_- “in‘the search for casualties or survivors of the ravages of the

oe

packed snow,

ww" slid