A sudden avalanche in Utah’s Little Cottonwood Canyon caught drivers by surprise on Tuesday evening, sending a wall of snow crashing onto SR-210 near Snowbird Ski Resort. The slide partially buried three vehicles, trapping passengers inside until rescue crews could dig them out. Miraculously, no one was injured in the frightening incident, but the close call left motorists shaken and grateful for their vehicles’ protection.
The avalanche struck after nearly two feet of fresh snow fell in the area within 24 hours, creating dangerous conditions along the mountain highway. According to the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), the snowslide hit near Bypass Road by the ski resort’s Entry 4, prompting immediate road closures while emergency teams worked to free the stranded drivers. One motorist, filming from inside his snow-covered truck, captured the chaotic moment on video, exclaiming, *“Dude, we just got hit by an avalanche!”* The footage quickly spread online, showing just how violently the snow pushed vehicles across the road.
Passengers described the terrifying experience of being suddenly engulfed in snow, unable to see or open their doors. *“It just pushed us and pushed those cars all the way from the other side. That is insane,”* said one survivor, Jp, who later reflected on how lucky they were to escape unharmed. UDOT crews worked through the night to clear the road and perform avalanche mitigation, reopening the canyon by late evening.
The near-disaster serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable dangers of winter mountain travel. Utah’s canyons are prone to avalanches, especially after heavy snowfall, and officials urge drivers to stay alert, check road conditions, and follow safety warnings. For those caught in Tuesday’s avalanche, the ordeal ended safely—but with a newfound respect for nature’s power.
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