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Washington State Patrol Trooper passes away in avalanche near Snoqualmie Pass Monday evening


Trooper Steve Houle Photo By: WSP

- Easton, WA


Search and Rescue have found the missing individual who was reported missing in the French Cabin Creek area. The Washington State Patrol confirmed late Monday evening that 51-year-old Steve Houle was found dead and was a trooper of the Washington State Patrol.


Houle served as a trooper for 28 years with WSP in Kittitas County, and was most recently in the Commercial Vehicle Division. Steve Houle was a husband and father, according to the Washington State Patrol. Details of the incident will be handled by Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office.

WSP Chief John Batiste stated, “Steve was a great person and an excellent employee, loved and respected by us all. We hold his memory and his family close to our hearts in this painfully sad time.”

The Wenatchee National Forest has been experiencing heavy amounts of snow and high winds this last weakend prompting avalanche dangers across the Cascade. The Kittitas Sheriffs Office believe the heavy snow and high winds were a contributor to the avalanche near Snoqualmie Pass. The first reports came in around 12:40 p.m. Monday near the Knox Creek Trailhead, a remote area near Cle Elum Lake, east of Snoqualmie Pass along the 90 Freeway. According to the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office the avalanche likely happened around 11 a.m. Monday February 8th.



This is a developing story stay with MLWA 7 News for more information when it becomes available. The MLWA 7 News team are sending our deepest condolences to the Houle family and the Washington State Patrol.

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