LITTLE COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah — Two Utah Department of Transportation employees were hit by a natural avalanche while staged in Little Cottonwood Canyon on Wednesday.
![UDOT Avalanche](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/8c30110/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2048x1536+0+0/resize/1280x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F2a%2F19%2Fc967b14a4d108e7b7c84482a5b5f%2Feudnxewxaaqveo3-1.jpeg)
The workers were part of the Cottonwood Canyons team that was assisting with avalanche control in the area near MP 7 on SR-210.
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According to a UDOT spokesperson, the employees were exiting a utility truck for a snowcat when both vehicles were hit by the avalanche.
![UDOT Avalanche](https://ewscripps.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/c395ccf/2147483647/strip/true/crop/2016x1512+0+0/resize/1280x960!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fewscripps-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fe4%2F1a%2F841e7b1d4ab99018262a2299909e%2Feudkgaoxeaeijdr.jpeg)
"We are grateful both team members are safe," tweeted UDOT public information officer John Gleason.
The incident came as most of Utah's mountain ranges have a high rating of avalanche danger, and the Salt Lake area mountains have "extreme" danger.