Snowmobiler dies near Spooner Summit

An Elk Grove man died Thursday snowmobiling near Spooner Summit.

Thomas Korves, 56, was found deceased beneath his sled.

Douglas County investigators said, “Thomas had been attempting to ride up a steep hill when he turned at an angle, causing the snowmobile to flip and pin him underneath.”

He and a friend had been riding on March 29 when they got separated. The friend called 911 at about 2:30pm when he couldn’t find his buddy.  

Search and rescue crews found the snowmobile about 8:30pm pinned up against a tree on a steep embankment off the side of the Tahoe Rim Trail. Korves was under the snowmobile. An autopsy confirmed Korves died from lack of respiration as a result of his chest being compressed underneath the weight of the snowmobile.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report