Five members of a Utah family died after being swept away by a flash flood in a southern Utah canyon. The Emery County Sheriff’s Office reported that the incident occurred while the family was on a day outing in a slot canyon area. The victims were identified as a local fire captain, his wife, and their three sons.
Authorities began a search operation after the family was reported missing when they failed to return as scheduled. Search and rescue crews located the bodies of all five individuals over the course of the investigation. The specific location was identified as a scenic canyon area known for being prone to rapid water rises during rain events.
The West Valley City Fire Department confirmed that the father was a captain within their agency. Local officials stated that the flash flood was triggered by regional weather patterns. No other injuries or missing persons were reported in connection with the specific incident.