1 killed in avalanche at New Mexico ski resort

The avalanche was reported Thursday morning at Kachina Peak, the highest point of the Taos Ski Valley resort, about 14 miles north of Taos.

Two skiers became buried in the snow, according to an earlier statement from Taos Ski Valley.

They were rescued by the resort's patrol and bystanders after the snow collapsed and buried them, said Chris Stagg, the resort's vice president for public affairs.

The skiers were transported to area medical facilities, a company statement said.

The skier died as a result of injuries sustained in the avalanche, the hospital official. He had been taken to nearby Holy Cross Medical Center in Taos and initially listed in critical condition, Bill Patten, the center's chief executive officer, told CNN.

The other injured skier was in critical condition and was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, hospital spokesman Alex Sanchez said.

Crews searched the avalanche area using probes, beacons and avalanche dogs but did not find any other skiers trapped, the resort's Stagg said.

It's not immediately clear what triggered the avalanche, but "a full investigation of the incident and its cause will be conducted," the resort tweeted Thursday.

Stagg said there has been avalanche mitigation work done there throughout the season and also on Thursday morning.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the two individuals who were affected by today's event and their families. We are grateful to the ski patrol and community of visitors across the mountain who responded without hesitation ... ," Stagg said in a statement. "We appreciate the overwhelming support of the community during this incident."

The avalanche comes a day after the resort tweeted that its lift to the Kachina Peak and hiking access would be closed because of visibility issues.

CNN's Sara Weisfeldt and Joe Sterling contributed to this report.

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