A 19-year-old Colby College freshman was killed Saturday morning in a snowboarding accident at Sugarloaf in Carrabassett Valley.

Andrew M. Peff of Philadelphia was snowboarding with friends on the expert-level Haulback Trail around 11 a.m. when he went off the trail and into the woods. He died on the mountain, a Sugarloaf security and police supervisor said.

Peff arrived at Colby College in Waterville two weeks ago after spending his first college semester in France as part of a Colby French-immersion program. Colby spokesman Stephen Collins said Peff had lunch with the dean of students about a week ago.

"He (the dean of students) said Andrew was very excited to be at Colby and was just beginning to get immersed in the community," Collins said.

The school is in the middle of its short January term. Colby's President William Adams notified staff and students of Peff's death Saturday afternoon in an e-mail.

"It's a small community, so obviously anytime something like this happens, it's a big blow," Collins said.

The Dean of Students Office will meet with students and offer counseling. A campus memorial service will be discussed, Collins said.

Sugarloaf officials are investigating the accident.