Fire captain, wife, 3 sons found dead after flash flood in Utah canyon; daughter is family's sole survivor - CBS News
A Provo fire captain and four of his family members died in a flash flood while hiking in a southern Utah canyon. The family's daughter is the sole survivor of the tragedy.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the extreme dangers of flash flooding in desert environments and the importance of weather awareness for outdoor recreation.
Five family members who had set out for a day of hiking were killed after a flash flood swept through canyons of southern Utah on Friday, law enforcement officials said. The victims were a captain in the Provo, Utah, fire department, his wife and their sons, according to fire officials. A daughter who was not on the trip survived. The family arrived Friday at Sunglow Campground in a scenic red rock canyon near Bicknell, Utah for their day excursion, the Wayne County Sheriff's Office said. "It is believed the family fell victim to flooding caused by heavy rains," the sheriff's office said in a news release. Although the sheriff's office did not identify the victims, the Provo Fire Department confirmed in a social media post that a fire captain, Spencer Long, and his family members were killed.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in