Ice tunnel collapses, snowboarder buried alive

Rescue crews on Mount Hood debated Saturday evening whether to begin the dig for a snowboarder buried under a collapsed ice tunnel or wait until daylight.

The collapse of the tunnel on Saturday afternoon trapped one snowboarder. Five others traveling with him were uninjured and called police.

Earlier reports from police incorrectly stated there were seven people in the group. They attempted to dig the man out, but were unable to break through thick snow and ice.

Hood River Sheriff's Office Sgt. Pete Hughes says an airplane was dispatched to survey the area, along with crews from local sheriff's offices.

The climber was trapped by a collapsed tunnel on the White River Glacier, which begins about 6,000 feet up the south side of the mountain.

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