A 4x4 has been hit by an avalanche on the Col d’Iseran close to the orientation table (2350m, north slope) above the ski resort of Val d’Isere. A 22 year old man has been killed in the accident a 44 year old, who was apparently standing next to the vehicle, was seriously injured. It appears the vehicle had stopped due to the depth of snow on the road. The accident occurred at between 08h00 and 09h00. The col d’Iseran is closed to traffic for the winter, however the men were working on the construction of a mountain restaurant at the Col.

http://maps.google.com/maps?&ll=45.437159,7.006145&spn=0.019965,0.052314&z=15

There is no full avalanche bulletin at the moment but with the recent fall and continuing rain/snow the risk at altitude must be between 3 and 4. It is possible that the warming temperatures and rain (the temperature at 1700m has increased 10C over the last 24 hours) have overloaded the snowpack leading to wet snow slides.

Last season a car of Grenoble ski tourers was buried by an avalanche in the Hautes-Alpes after taking a closed road. They were rescued after one of the group was able to dig their way out of the slide.