NEVADA CITY, Calif. — Crews found the bodies of eight backcountry skiers and are searching for one more who remains missing after an avalanche in the mountains near Lake Tahoe, authorities said Wednesday, making it the deadliest U.S. avalanche in nearly half a century.
Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon updates media on rescue efforts following an avalanche at a news conference in Nevada City, Calif. on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Tran Nguyen)
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A road is cleared during a snow storm on Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026 near Soda Springs, Calif. (AP Photo/Brooke Hess-Homeier)
Trucks are lined up Tuesday along Interstate 80 during a storm in Truckee, Calif.
A vehicle is buried in snow Tuesday during a storm in Truckee, Calif.
The 15 states with the most snow-related driving fatalities
15 states with the most snow-related auto fatalities
How to prepare your car for winter
States with the most driving fatalities related to snow & ice
While winter road conditions are only responsible for 2.6 percent of road fatalities nationally, there is significant variation at the state level. To find which states have the most snow-related driving fatalities, researchers at CoPilot analyzed data from the NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) for the period of 2014 to 2018. They calculated the percentage of all vehicle occupant fatalities that occurred on roads with snow or ice at the time of the crash.
Here are the states with the most snow-related driving fatalities.
15. Colorado
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 5.3%
14. Oregon
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 5.3%
13. New Hampshire
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 6.4%
12. Nebraska
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 7.3%
11. Iowa
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 7.3%
10. Montana
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 7.9%
9. Wisconsin
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 8.5%
8. Michigan
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 9.5%
5. Vermont
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 9.8%
7. South Dakota
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 9.7%
6. Maine
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 9.8%
4. Minnesota
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 11.9%
3. Wyoming
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 12.0%
2. North Dakota
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 12.5%
1. Alaska
Share of all driving fatalities related to snow/ice: 22.8%
