DEVELOPING: Lake Tahoe skiing disaster footage officially unveiled, fatalities increase by two and victims formally identified

Two men died in separate incidents at the resort on Friday, Feb. 20, according to the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District

By
Escher Walcott

Escher Walcott
Escher Walcott is a Writer/Reporter at PEOPLE, covering stories in Entertainment, Style, Human Interest. She joins having written for several popular news publications, including Glamour, Refinery29, NYLON and Evening Standard, discussing the latest fashion trends, pop culture news, and pressing social matters.

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Published on February 21, 2026 07:40AM EST

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A skier above alpine lake in Lake Tahoe, California.Credit : Getty

NEED TO KNOW

On Friday, Feb. 20, two skiers died in separate incidents at Heavenly Mountain Resort near Lake Tahoe
The victims were a 33-year-old man and a 58-year-old man, according to the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District
The deaths come after several other fatalities in the region this season

Two skiers have died in separate incidents at the same resort in Lake Tahoe, California.

The two fatal incidents occurred around noon on Friday, Feb. 20, at Heavenly Mountain Resort on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe, CBS News and My News 4 reported, citing the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO).

Both skiers were transported to the base area by Heavenly Ski Patrol after deputies responded to the scene. Despite life-saving efforts from the Tahoe Douglas Fire Protection District (TDFPD) and paramedics, the pair were soon pronounced dead.

The two individuals are not believed to be connected, the outlets reported.

Heavenly Village in South Lake Tahoe, California.George Rose/Getty

The TDFPD confirmed in a statement on Facebook that a 33-year-old man was “involved in a serious incident that took place on the mountain,” resulting in his death. A 58-year-old man also suffered a “serious medical event” on the mountain and died.

“Heavenly Ski Patrol responded to the incident on the intermediate Orian Trail. The guest was transported by the patrol to TDFPD EMS. After further emergency care and evaluation, the ski was pronounced deceased,” said TDFPD.

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“Heavily Ski Patrol responded to a medical event incident on the Tamarac return trail. The guest was transported by patrol to TDFPD EMF at the base of boulder. Following continued emergency care and medical review, the ski was declared deceased,” TDFPD concluded.

The victims have not been publicly identified at this time.

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Heavenly Ski Resort.George Rose/Getty

The fatal incidents come after several deaths in the Lake Tahoe region in recent days.

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the body of missing 21-year-old college student Colin Kang, of Fremont, was found in the area of Northstar California Resort.

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Kang had “gone skiing and did not return as expected,” the Placer County Sheriff’s Office shared in a news release on Facebook. His vehicle was found in a parking lot at Northstar California Resort before he was later discovered.

Kang was the third person to die this month at the North Shore resort, located between Truckee and Lake Tahoe.

On Feb. 17, at least eight other people were killed after an avalanche struck the backcountry near Lake Tahoe. The incident marks one of the deadliest avalanches in California’s history.

The DCSO did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for further comment.