A 32-year-old snowmobiler was killed in an avalanche Thursday west of Crested Butte, becoming Colorado’s first fatality in a snow slide this season.

The Mt. Crested Butte Police Department identified the man as Daniel Bradly Sethness.

“He went by ‘Brad’ in our community,” said Marjorie Trautman, a police spokeswoman.

Trautman said authorities believe Sethness was with a group of four people when the slide happened.

The Colorado Avalanche Information Center says Sethness triggered a large avalanche while riding below the southeast shoulder of Ruby Peak.

“The group was reported to have been using a snowmobile to tow a snowboarder off of a jump when the slide broke loose,” police said in a news release.

According to the CAIC, emergency responders resuscitated Sethness at the scene and medically evacuated from the area.

He died Thursday night at Gunnison Valley Hospital.

Avalanche forecasters said slide danger in Gunnison County was considerable on Thursday. Avalanche risk remains throughout the high country following a string of heavy storms in recent weeks.

The CAIC says in the 2014-2015 snow season 12 people were caught and three killed in Colorado avalanches. Eight people have been caught in avalanches in the state so far this season.

Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul