A snowmobiler from Oregon was buried and died in an avalanche just north of Lake Tahoe on Monday, despite efforts by his friends and rescue crews to save him.

A snowmobiler has died following an avalanche near Johnson Peak and Castle Peak in the Truckee area of Nevada County, officials said Monday evening.

TRUCKEE, Calif. -- An avalanche in California's Sierra Nevada on Monday buried a snowmobiler in snow and killed him, authorities said. Rescuers responded after a 911 call around 2:20 p.m. reported a possible avalanche near Johnson Peak and Castle Peak in Truckee.

Thomason, a co‑owner of the Thomason Auto Group car dealership in Bend, is survived by his wife and three daughters, NBC affiliate KTVZ reported. Thomason’s wife, Kerri Marf Kurtz, penned an emotional Facebook post about her late husband on Wednesday, Jan. 7.