VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Playing in the snow proved dangerous for many in the Portland area during the latest storm -- and deadly for one Vancouver girl.

A father was blamed for fatally injuring his 9-year-old daughter during a sledding accident involving an inner tube Tuesday night, authorities said.

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Peter Michael Gecho was illegally towing his daughter on an inner tube behind his pickup truck when he made a tight turn which flung the tube into a brick bench along a sidewalk, said Sgt. Tim Bieber with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

“It is also believed that alcohol contributed to this incident, in terms of the father,” Bieber said.

Madison Gecho was fatally injured when she struck the brick bench.

Her father brought her to Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital about 9:15 p.m. and soon she was transferred to Legacy Emanuel Hospital in Portland, where she was pronounced dead.

Providence officials said they treated 150 patients at St. Vincent Medical Center, Providence Portland, and Providence Milwaukie Hospital, mostly for sprains and fractures.

OHSU treated eight sledding victims Tuesday.

MORE: Dozens hurt Tuesday in sledding accidents

Madison Gecho and an 18-year-old boy who is a friend of the family had been riding on a tube used for boating, Bieber said. The accident occurred on Vancouver School District property at Thomas Jefferson Middle School in Felida.

It’s unclear whether the 18-year-old also struck the bench, but his injuries only consisted of bruises.

The incident is under investigation by the sheriff's major crimes unit along with the traffic homicide unit.

Anyone who may have witnessed the incident but has yet to be contacted by investigators is asked to contact either detective Kevin Harper at 360-397-2032 or detective Eric O'Dell at 360-397-2040.

Also, the inner tube involved was left at the scene behind the school following the accident, but someone later took it. Investigators would like to examine the tube, which was described as yellow with two seats with handles for the passengers.

Anyone who knows where the inner tube might be is asked to call the detectives listed above.